SRINAGAR, Jan 26: A family from Sumbal area of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district whose son was detained from his home on 22nd of this month appealed the authorities to release him on humanitarian basis.
Hilal Ahmad Bhat son of Abdul Majeed Bhat of Sumbal according to his family was on January 22 detained by police for questioning and later shifted to Delhi by the Delhi Police Special Cell.
The family members of Hilal while refuting some news reports about his involvement in Lajpat Nagar ‘blast’ said had he been involved in any such activity he would have been arrested a way back and not years after the incident.
“He is our lone brother; my father is a motor mechanic who hardly earns rupees 100-200 a day. Hilal deals with readymade garments. Had he been involved in any criminal activity we would also have amassed infinite wealth like others,” said Varda sister of the detained Sumbal youth.
She said that her brother who was shifted to Delhi by DPSC was initially detained by the police for questioning.
“Our house was cordoned by the police and army; they were looking for my brother who had gone to Srinagar for some work. They asked us to produce him before police for questioning. The very next day we handed him over to police who assured us that he will be released after questioning,” she added.
Varda said that she met Hilal in district court day before he was shifted to Delhi by the Delhi Police Special Cell.
When contacted Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Bandipora, Sheikh Zulfiqar Azad said Hilal was detained by the Delhi Police Special Cell and not the local police.
“His own friend in Delhi has informed Delhi Police about him; else this is not any big issue. He has been detained for questioning and will be released soon,” SSP Bandipora said.
“He has been implicated by his own friend Lateef who lives in Vakoora. He was harassing him and the family for quite some time. I would like to reiterate that if my brother would have been involved in any case he would have been arrested a way back. Why was he arrested years after the incident,” said Hilal’s sister amid sobs.
The family said they owes loan worth sixteen lakhs (16, 00000) to the bank which is impossible for them to clear given their desperate economic conditions.
“We are poor people kindly take pity on us and release my innocent brother. We appeal the Governor Satyapal Malik and the Delhi Special Police Cell authorities to release him on humanitarian basis as he has never been involved in any such activity which goes against the national interest,” she added.
