Srinagar, Sep 17: Shameema of Tiligam, a north Kashmir village, could not control her emotions as she saw a glimpse of her husband, Shabir Ahmad Dar, after almost seven years. Dar, convicted in militancy related cases outside the state, was presented in a local court here recently.
Loss of her 10-year old son and mother-in-law due to cardiac arrest during the past few years has failed to deter her resolve to fight for her husband’s honourable release.
“I have been waiting for this day for so many years. I am happy as well as sad. I am happy because I am meeting my husband after seven years and sad because my son and mother-in-law could not live to see him,” Shameema said as she tightly held Dar’s hands when he was brought to Lower Court here by Andhra Pradesh police personnel.
Dar, a truck driver, was arrested by Rajasthan police on December 26, 2005 for allegedly transporting arms and ammunition and was subsequently charged by a TADA court in Rajasthan and sentenced to 10-years rigorous imprisonment. He was later shifted to a jail in Andhra Pradesh.
Back home in Tiligam, Pattan of north Kashmir, Dar’s arrest shattered his family. The hapless family not only lost its lone bread-earner but two family members. “We had to sell our land to purchase the truck. But destiny had something else in store for us,” Dar’s wife Shameema said and broke down.
“When Dar was arrested, his mother rushed to Andhra Pradesh to meet him. But she was denied meeting by the jail authorities. After four months she died of heart attack,” Shameema said.
As fate would have it, the family had to face more tragedies. “My son Mubashir also went to meet his father but he too was denied meeting. He always asked for his father’s welfare. After a month he also died due to cardiac arrest,” she said amid sobs.
In the premises of lower court here, Shameema shared an apple with her husband in a police vehicle under the gaze of Andhra Pradesh police personnel.
“I wish this world would stop for some moments. It has been many years now that we have eaten together,” Shameema said as Dar was whisked away in the vehicle.
Few days back TADA Court Srinagar had directed Superintendent Central Jail Srinagar to produce the accused in possession of illegal arms case of 1992, Shabir Ahmed Dar before it on September 25.
Dar is facing trial in the Court in FIR No. 62/1992 in Police Station Pattan for offences under section, 4 and 5 TADA (P) Act and 7/25 Arms Act. However, he has been undergoing 10-year rigorous imprisonment in Andhra Pradesh and was recently brought to Srinagar to face trial in the case.
Counsels Shafqat Hussain and Mushtaq Ahmed representing the accused submitted before the Court guidelines of the Supreme Court in support of their contention that accused should be lodged in the nearest jail where his trial is scheduled to take place.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 17 Sep 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 17 Sep 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 18 Sep 2012 00:00:00 IST