Srinagar, Nov 14: Three days after Army filed an FIR against a ‘mob’ for thrashing their intelligence wing soldier during the rally of Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani in Sopore on Friday, the pro-freedom conglomerate on Monday moved an application before police seeking lodging of an FIR in what they termed "deep rooted conspiracy hatched by Army intelligence to eliminate their leader."
This was announced by Geelani during a news conference at his Hyderpora residence here this morning.
Speaking to reporters, Geelani said ‘contradictory versions’ of the police and Army over the presence of MI personnel in his rally proves that the matter is very serious.
“On one hand police claimed the MI soldier was present in the rally to record my speech, but on the other Army says he was part of covert joint operation to gather information about the presence of militants, which has been disputed by police. They (police) had claimed that they were not part of the operation,” he said.
Geelani said motive of the presence of an armed intelligence personnel in his gathering was either to “assassinate me or to disrupt the procession which could also have caused loss of life.”
Narrating the sequences of events on that day, Geelani said, after Friday prayers they held a peaceful procession at Iqbal Market.
“There was disruption during the gathering, but I didn’t know exactly what had happened. When I was leaving the venue, youth apprised me that they have caught hold of a person in suspicious circumstances and recovered a pistol from his possession,” he said, adding that the apprehended person was identified as Naik Kamlesh Mishra of MI.
“He was later handed over to police. But instead of initiating action against him, an FIR was lodged against more than a dozen youth,” he added.
Geelani said, ‘going by the track record of Army it gives credibility to the fact that it was an attempt on my life as 17 such bids have been made over the years.’
Mincing no words in castigating Army, Geelani said Army was ‘running entire show in Jammu and Kashmir and civil government is for the sake of it.’
“Army has developed a vested interest in Kashmir and was ruling the state. They don’t want their supremacy to be snatched here,” he said.
“There is no accountability for Army deployed here on killing the people, outraging chastity of women, occupying land and plundering our forests,” he said, adding, “Army enjoys immunity due to imposition of Armed Forces Special Powers Act, Disturbed Areas Act and Public Safety Act here.”
Replying to a query on the remarks of Pakistani cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan and grant of Most Favoured Nation status to India by the country, Geelani said Pakistan should not push Kashmir issue on backburner.
“It is not acceptable to us at any cost if Pakistan will sideline the issue. They are a party to the dispute,” he added.
Claiming that arrest spree is going on unabated in the Valley, the aging leader said police, Army, mainstream politicians, Sarpanchs and Panchs were seeking hefty amount for their release.
Geelani also accused forces of intimidating and harassing Sopore residents, saying they want to ‘repeat the massacre of January 6, 1993, in the town.’
Meanwhile, a police spokesman said an FIR is already registered in this regard and Hurriyat’s application will form a part of this investigation.
“It will be investigated fairly,” he said, adding “it is really an encouraging gesture on the part of Geelani that he has reposed his trust in the system and police for their professional competence.”
He added that the person who had filed an application on behalf of Geelani in police station Sopore was asked to produce the pistol, identity card and camera of the Army man. “But he has failed to produce them,” he added.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 14 Nov 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 14 Nov 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 15 Nov 2011 00:00:00 IST