Srinagar, Nov 24: A day before the shutdown called by Hurriyat Conference (G) Chairman Syed Ali Geelani against ‘detention’ of 51 minors in Kashmir following a report by New Delhi-based human rights group, police on Thursday claimed that no minor from Kashmir is lodged in any jail.
“Out of 51 cases only 38 were from Kashmir valley. Majority of the detainees were involved in unlawful activities and have been released on bail except for few cases involving murder. No minor from Kashmir is detained in any jail. If there are some, they must be in juvenile homes,” Deputy Inspector General of Police, Central Kashmir Range, Abdul Ghani Mir told Greater Kashmir.
“Majority of the arrestees were involved in crimes including theft, eve teasing, violation of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance Act, murder, kidnapping, rape and other crimes,” Mir said.
The New Delhi-based rights group, Asian Centre for Human Rights, had recently revealed that 51 minors are behind the bars in different jails in Kashmir Valley. Following the revelation, Geelani called for shutdown on November 25 to protest the detentions. Contesting the group’s report, Mir said: “When we verified these allegations we found that only 38 cases were from Kashmir.”
In a statement issued today, police said, “We make it clear that young boys involved in subversive activities and disrupting economic activities have already been bailed out and no one is in police custody.
It (the strike call) exposes the designs of separatists”, the statement said.
In a separate statement, police said of the 35 accused who were arrested at different times 30 have been bailed out. The list identifies the accused including some females with changed names, arrested from different districts. The cases have been registered in different police stations.
“In order to malign the image of State and Police, Hurriyat leaders are portraying anti-social elements as innocent victims,” the statement said.
However, Geelani today reiterated his strike call urging people to observe complete shutdown on Friday against ‘detention of political activists, arrest and detention of minors and torture of Kashmiri detainees in Kot Balwal and Amphala jails in Jammu.’
Condemning the police actions, Geelani appealed to Amnesty International to take serious note of the “detainees’ plight” and use its good offices for their immediate release.
In a statement, Geelani alleged that one of the senior workers of Tahreek-e-Hurriyat, Muhammad Yousuf Lone, had been harassed by Kupwara police and condemned continued detention of the two sons of Abdul Gani Bhat of Sopore.
“Hurriyat will not remain silent over the atrocities being committed on Kashmiri detainees in jails and detention centers which include 50 minors,” the statement said.
The statement said more than a thousand Kashmiris were currently lodged in different jails in and outside the Valley.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 24 Nov 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 24 Nov 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 25 Nov 2011 00:00:00 IST