Biz comm condemns ‘attempt to murder’ charges against Malik, associates

Srinagar, Dec 20:The Kashmir Economic Alliance Chairman Muhammad Yasin Khan Thursday condemned the police charges of attempt to murder against JKLF Chief and Joint Hurriyat leader Yasin Malik and his associates.

In a statement, Khan who also heads the KTMF said it was unfortunate that the ailing leader who heads JKLF has been booked for attempt to murder for merely having staged peaceful protests against right violations in Kashmir.

Khan said such pressure by the Raj Bhawan was only pushing the soft separatism towards the wall. “Is protesting against the killing of seven innocent civilians a crime?”

Seeking intervention of the lawyers’ fraternity, Khan said when people are booked for murder for merely holding peaceful protests the state of policing can only be imagined.

Khan said the development of booking innocents for such frivolous charges would only set a bad precedence.

Earlier on Wednesday, police had booked Malik and his associates for ‘attempt to murder’.

Malik and seven of his associates, including Mushtaq Ajmal, Muhammad Hanif Dar, Imtiyaz Ahmad Dar, Imtiyaz Ahmad Ganie, Shakir Ahmad Ahangar, Fayaz Ahmad and Basharat Ahmad, have been booked under sections 307, ,336, 353, 353, 427, 148, 147, 147 and 152 of RPC.

According to JKLF spokesperson, police presented these inmates before concerned tehsildar seeking a permission to send them to the central jail but he ordered police to release all on personal bond as per law.

“All of them were remanded to police custody for four more days by the court of 3rd Munsif,” spokesperson said.

Malik along with his associates were part of Monday’s attempted protest march towards Badami Bagh under a plea ‘don’t kill us one by one, Kill us all together’.

Police foiled the protest and fired tear gas to the marchers back before taking Malik into custody.

JKLF chairman said that it is ironical that peaceful protesters are booked under act of ‘attempt to murder’.

Malik said they started peaceful march but police officers almost hacked us to death of which video evidence is available.

Malik 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,” he said.

He challenged police in court and asked them 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.

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