Srinagar, December 19 (KNO) : In a significant development, police have booked JKLF Chief Muhammad Yasin Malik and seven of his associates, under section 307, the attempt to murder.
The move evoked strong resentment from various quarters including JKLF, High Court Bar Association and the rights groups. A police official told KNO that Malik and seven of his associates have been booked under section 307, ,336, 353, 353, 427, 148, 147, 147 and 152.
Besides Malik, seven others include Mushtaq Ajmal, Muhammad Hanif Dar, Imtiyaz Ahmad Dar, Imtiyaz Ahmad Ganie, Shakir Ahmad Ahangar, Fayaz Ahmad and Basharat Ahmad who were arrested by police on December 17. A Front spokesman said that Police presented these inmates before concerned Tehsildar seeking a permission to send them to central jail but he ordered police to release all arrested on personal bond as per law.
“Police then using its old tactics re-arrested Yasin Sahib and others under various concocted charges like Today all detainees including JKLF ailing chairman were first taken to police hospital for a routine medical checkup and then presented before the court of 3rd Munsif. Senior lawyer Advocate Bashir Sideeq represented Yasin Sahib and others at the court and argued against the police FIR.
JKLF chairman after the permission from the court put forward the facts regarding the concocted police FIR.
He told the court that on 17th December 2018, JRL had announced to peacefully march to Indian army headquarters in Srinagar under a plea ‘don’t kill us one by one, Kill us all together’. He said that Indian army and forces have gone berserk in villages on Kashmir and are on daily basis killing innocents with impunity and this protest march was announced in this context.”
JKLF chairman said that Mirwaiz Muhammad Umar Farooq defied house arrest and was detained while as Syed Ali shah Geelani was locked inside his home and he (Mohammad Yasin Malik) leading men, women, elders and youth tried to march towards Badami Bagh from Lal- Chowk.
As soon as we started our peaceful march wearing white shrouds (Kafan), police started using its force to stop the march and resorted to heavy shelling, cane-charge and other modes of suppression. Even women and girls participating in protest were not spared and heavy shelling injured many of them too.
Police officers almost hacked ne to death of which video evidence is available. He told the court that those who assaulted peaceful protesters and almost strangulated me to death have charged us with attempt to murder which can only be termed as travesty of the law.
Police then arrested us and booked us Under 107,151 but as soon magistrate ordered our release on personal bond, police re-arrested and booked us Under 307 like charges. JKLF chairman said that it is ironical that peaceful protesters are booked under act of ‘attempt to murder’ and today I challenge police in this court to bring one policeman or officer who has sustained any injury at the hands of protesters on that day and prove their claim.
JKLF chairman told the court that this kind of police attitude is actually responsible for pushing Kashmiri youth to the wall and path of armed resistance which court of laws should also take a note of and provide justice to innocent youth, the spokesman said. After hearing the strong arguments of JKLF chairman and Advocate Bashir Sideeq, court ordered to send all incarcerated person including JKLF chairman on 4 days police remand after which all have been again shifted back to police station Maisuma.(KNO)