Ruling government-led by Peoples Democratic Party on Friday booked two leaders of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat (TeH) and Jama’at-e-Islami (JeI) under Public Safety Act (PSA), the legislation described as ‘lawless law’ by amnesty international.
TeH senior leader and district president Srinagar Mohammad Rafiq Shah (40) alias Owasi son of Mohammad Yasin Shah of Shuhama Nagbal and Jama’at-e-Islami district president Bashir Ahmad Lone (59) son of Late Abdul Samad of Syed Pora Harwan, were arrested by police in separate raids, official sources told GNS. They said while Shah was picked up from his residence on Tuesday, Lone was arrested on Wednesday. Later both leaders were booked under PSA on Friday and shifted to Kot Bhalwal Jail in Jammu.
Rafiq Shah was booked vide government order number (01/DMG/PSA-2018 dated: 11/05/2018 and Bashir Ahmad Lone was booked under number (2/DMG/PSA-2018, dated 11-05-2018, they said. Sources said that while Lone led the funeral prayers of militant turned Assistant Professor of Kashmir University Dr Mohammad Rafi at his native village in Ganderbal on May 6, Shah addressed the mourners. Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani also telephonically addressed the gathering and the mobile phone was held by the TeH leader. Lone, according to sources, had also addressed the people and both were held for giving "hate speech". Tens of thousands of people attended the funeral prayers of the professor during which Lone played role in maintaining the discipline. He, according to sources, had fulfilled the “last wish” of slain Kashmir University professor turned militant by leading his funeral prayers. The slain professor had asked his father that Lone should lead his funeral prayers.
A police officer told GNS that both the persons were involved in “anti-national” activities and, as such, they were arrested and subsequently booked under PSA. He said that recently two FIRs stand registered against Shah at Soura and Ganderbal police stations under FIR No. 23/2018 u/s 148, 149, 153 RPC and Rafiq 71/2018 13 Unlawful Activities Act. Similarly, as many FIRs have been registered against Lone in Kangan and Ganderbal police stations under number 29/2018 u/s 148, 149, 336 and 72/2018 u/s 13 Unlawful Activities Act, the officer added. A senior government official told GNS that administration has decided to go tough against the “trouble mongers.” “Nobody will be allowed to disrupt peace and as such the government has decided to act tough against all the trouble-mongers,” the official said. A spokesperson of Jama’at-e-Islami Advocate Zahid Ali said the duo was arrested following their participation in the funeral of KU assistant professor at Chunduna village.
“He (Lone) had a friendship with the father of professor Dr Mohammad Rafi Bhat. He had gone there to offer Namaz-e-Janaza (funeral prayers). Lone sahib had tried to discipline the crowd after some vested interests, probably from BJP tried to get on stage when Bhat’s mother and sister were having his last glimpse. This is his (Lone’s) only fault. Rafiq Shah has only participated in the funeral. This is all they have done,” said Ali. Meanwhile, condemning the slapping of PSA on two senior leaders, a youth leader of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat (TeH) Umar Adil Dar termed the government action as "Jungle Raj". "We are not even allowed to have Taziyat (mourning) of our own people who are being killed.
It is the height of inhumanity," Dar said. “What else can we expect from this police state,” he said, adding that the senior leaders had gone to Ganderbal to offer funeral prayers for KU assistant professor. “Is this humanity? The pro-freedom leaders are even barred from participating in the funeral prayers,” Dar added. In February last year, Mohammad Rafiq Shah was released after languishing in Tihar jail for 12 years. He was declared innocent by the court. Assistant Professor Dr Mohammad Rafi was among the five militants including Hizb Commander Sadam Padder who were killed in Badigam village of Shopian district of south Kashmir on Sunday last.
Six civilians protesting near the gunfight site were killed during the clashes in forces action and nearly 60 others suffered injuries. Meanwhile, police arrested Jama’at-e-Islami leader Gulzar Ahmad Bhat and his son Aqib Gulzar at Uranhall village of south Kashmir's Anantnag district. Gulzar Ahmad Bhat, is stated to be tehsil president Islamabad.