Kashmir lockdown: Citizens group protests at Jantar Mantar

New Delhi: With Kashmir in lockdown since August 5, a group of citizens came together demanding that peace be restored in Kashmir, at Jantar Mantar on Saturday. They also demanded that children who are detained, be released immediately, during the protest.

Speaking to the Millennium Post about the situation, former Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) Wajahat Habibullah said, "I think the situation is pretty sad. What now needs to be done is full restoration of democratic rights, which is what this demonstration is all about."

He added that a whole state of J&K is under lockdown and called it a "suspension of all democratic rights."

The peaceful protest saw a gathering of activists, journalists, former politicians and citizens concerned about the situation in Kashmir. Ther are reports that several thousand youngsters have been detained. However, there is no concrete data to show how many youngsters have been actually detained. "I have filed an RTI in Agra, where some children are said to be detained, but it was rejected on the context of security," said Habibullah.

He also said that Kashmiris are not against India as the decision is institutional-based.