KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
They waited for him days and nights and searched him at many places but could not get even a trace of him. Finally, he was detected moving on a motor-cycle and the chase started.
And then it led to the unexpected. He jumped into the river.
Police said they were seeking Abdul Gani Bhat of Baba Raza belt for a long time because he has more than 30 cases registered against him. A senior police officer said Bhat is one of the main organizers of the Hurriyat Conference in the area.
On Sunday afternoon, some cops traced him near Arampora and he apparently was on his way to Mehrajpora. The chase started. But it shocked the cops following him when he stopped his bike somewhere went to the bund of the Jhelum and jumped into the river.
“He basically jumped into the river and then used a boat and then jumped again and swam to safety,” a senior police officer aware of the happening said. “We were after him for a long time.”
The officer believes that Bhat has fled to safety.
Bhat who is known in the belt, according to police, with his alias Gani Gour. He is a band-saw owner of around 55 years of age. He is believed to be district president of the Tehreek-e-Hurriyat.
Efforts to get the details from Bhat’s family failed.
Local sources from Sopore said that Bhat was injured in the chase as cops fired pellets targeting him. “There was only one fire,” a local said, “and immediately, we came to know that Bhat was injured when cops found him and fired pellets at him.”
However, police have denied any such action.
(This news item was updated from time to time.)
