SRINAGAR: Gujjar leader, Talib Hussain who was the key whistleblower in the horrific gang-rape of a minor girl in Kathua in 2018, has been arrested for allegedly “provoking public against the forces.”
As per reports in the media, the Gujjar activist was arrested after he demanded justice for a tribal youth Parvez Ahmad, who was killed in CRPF firing after he allegedly jumped a checkpoint in South Kashmir’s Anantnag.
An FIR has been lodged against him in Police Station Larnoo in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
The incident had taken place late in the evening on October 7. The slain is a resident of the Jammu region but spends most of his summers in Srinagar with his family.
Station House Officer (SHO) Larnoo, Nisar Ahmad told a newspaper that Hussain made a provocative speech after the killing of a tribal youth allegedly in CRPF Firing.
“He called it a fake encounter and provoked people against the government and security forces,” a local newspaper quoted SHO Larnoo as saying.
Hussain, a month ago, in a Facebook live had questioned the official version of the incident and demanded an investigation into the killing. He had also questioned the haste allegedly exhibited in the funeral of the youth. He has told his brother that police have booked him for the 14-minute video about the killing of Parvez Ahmad on October 8, 2021. The video was watched by more than 10K people.
Hussain was arrested on November 7 from Kokernag where he was with his wife and two kids. He was booked under FIR No. 65 of 2021 that was registered close to three weeks ago under Sections 505 and 153 of the Indian Penal Code for spreading rumours and fake news and promoting enmity between different groups.
The Police had said, that CRPF fired at Parvez in “self-defense”.
Hussain’s lawyer Tariq Ahmad Breng told the newspaper that they have applied for bail and the government has been asked for an objection tomorrow. “I hope the bail will be provided in our favour,” the newspaper quoted him as saying.
Hussain is currently associated with the People’s Democratic Party.
