UMER MAQBOOL

Srinagar, Sep 12: The Jammu and Kashmir Police has shot off letters to Anti-Terrorism Squads of various states urging them not to detain any person from the state without informing it.
Reliable sources told Greater Kashmir that Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, SM Sahai has written to chiefs of Anti-Terrorist Squads of other states, asking them not to detain J&K residents without verifying their credentials from J&K Police.
The development comes in the wake of the arrest of Abdul Gani Magray (45) son of Ghulam Ahmad Magray and Mian Ahmad Khatana (35) son of Muhammad Subhan Khatana, hailing from Chogund, Dooru in south Kashmir, by Rajasthan police.
Sources said the letter was shot to the ATS Heads of Delhi, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Punjab following the instructions of the State Government.
“We have made request to all states not to detain general suspects without getting feedback from us,” Sahai told Greater Kashmir.
The sources said the state police wants to avoid the feeling of unnecessary “harassment” among Kashmiri youths during their travel to other parts of the country.
Investigations have revealed that the detained duo had no connections with any outfit and were not involved in suspicious activities.

POLITICIANS AGHAST:
Political parties including separatists have expressed anger over the detentions in the wake of Delhi High Court blast.
Peoples Democratic Party President Mehbooba Mufti said the new cycle of the arrests is unfortunate as it would further increase the alienation and complicate situation in Kashmir.
“Arrest of Kashmiris is regrettable. After every minor incident across India, Muslims particularly Kashmiris are persecuted. I told Government of India during National Integration Council meet that we should learn lessons from America how they have been able to protect their Muslim population,” she said.
Mehbooba added that harassment of Kashmiris outside state is continuing despite advisories from State and Centre.
“It seems New Delhi is yet to understand the lesson,” she added.
Echoing the views, National Conference Member Parliament from south Kashmir, Dr. Mehboob Beg, said detention of Kashmiris would create further wedge between New Delhi and Kashmir.
“Those involved in the HC blast should be punished, but at the same time state subjects shouldn’t be unnecessarily harassed as it would deteriorate fragile peace here,” he said.
“New Delhi needs to handle the situation carefully,” he added.
State Congress president Prof.  Saifuddin Soz said they will not allow any law enforcing agency to touch any innocent Kashmiri.
“There is no question of harassment to residents of JK and we will respond to their any  unnecessarily harassment,” he said, adding that he has taken up matter of arrest of two persons from south Kashmir with the Home Ministry and Director General of Police.
“I have sent missive to Home Ministry and DGP has also sent cable to his counterparts about their innocence,” he added.
The separatists too echoed the same views.
Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (G) Syed Ali Shah Geelani said Kashmiris putting up in other parts of India are looked upon suspiciously.
“They have no respect for human values when it comes to Kashmir and its state subjects and the arrests are part of this mentality,” he said.
Acting chairman of Hurriyat (M) Prof. Abdul Gani Bhat said, “The arrests and killings of innocents is a heinous crime by itself. We should make sure that no harm is caused to innocent people anywhere across the globe.”

Lastupdate on : Mon, 12 Sep 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 12 Sep 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 13 Sep 2011 00:00:00 IST