Branwar (Budgam), Aug 6: Muhammad Ashraf Jahara was just 14 years old in 2002 when he went for arms training across the line of control.
In 2010 he left militancy and married a girl from Pakistan Administered Kashmir namely Asima. Ashraf along with his wife entered this side of J&K along with his wife via Poonch border and surrendered before Army who handed them over to local police.
The police interrogated Ashraf and he was lodged in Poonch jail for one year along with his wife. In early 2012, Ashraf was released from the district jail Poonch but was again arrested by Budgam police when he returned to his home located at Branwar Chadoora in district Budgam.
“My son has been arrested under some murder case which he has not committed. The police have falsely implicated him for the murder dating back to 2000 or 2001, that time Ashraf was just 13 years old and not affiliated with militancy,” says Ashraf’s father Ghulam Muhammad Jahara.
“My daughter in law is still lodged in Poonch jail. We want justice. Is this the rehabilitation policy of the Government? I want Chief Minister to intervene. I am a poor old man and have sold 3 kanals of land during all this process to secure the release of my son and his wife,” Ghulam Muhammad Jahara said.
The family is financially crippled and have no source of income. “If such things continue nobody will be willing to return from across the LoC. We appeal human rights bodies especially State Human Rights Commission and State Women’s Commission to come to our rescue. We have no means to fight this case in the courts,” said Ashraf’s uncle Muhammad Abdullah Jahara.
The family has now appealed the Director General of Police to intervene in the matter. “We appeal the new DGP Mr Ashok Prasad to look into the matter and ensure justice to us,” said Muhammad Sadiq, a relative of Ashraf.
PDP leader and former Chairman of Legislative Council, Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjoora, has castigated the Government’s ‘so-called rehabilitation policy’ and has demanded that Ashraf Jahara and his wife must be released as soon as possible. He appealed the Director General of Police to look into this matter and pave way for their release without any further delay.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 6 Aug 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 6 Aug 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 7 Aug 2012 00:00:00 IST