Saturday, August 13 2005 19:20 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Srinagar: Opposition National Conference today (Aug 13, 2005) alleged that the state government was "harassing" people in the name of security.

"India and Pakistan are celebrating their Independence Day but unfortunately people of Kashmir are being arrested, everyone irrespective of age and sex is being harassed," senior NC leader Mohammad Syed Akhoon said in a statement here (Srinagar) today (Aug 13, 2005).

"An atmosphere of fear was gripping the valley as even women and girls were being frisked in the name of security." Terming the security measures in the valley as unprecedented, he said "harassment of the common man was no less than a black dot on the Democracy".

Akhoon urged India and Pakistan to take immediate steps to resolve Kashmir issue as per the wishes of the Kashmiris on the eve of Independence Day of India and Pakistan.