KL Report
SRINAGAR
The family of late National Conference worker Haji Yousuf Saturday appealed Prime Minister Narendra Modi to direct Police Chief of Jammu and Kashmir to register a murder case against Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and three other accused who according to the family are directly involved in the ‘murder’ of Yousuf.
Addressing a news conference here, Talib Hussain, the son of late NC worker said that it is irony that till yesterday Omar Abdullah was terming his father’s death as natural and now, he himself asserted during an election rally in Uri that he had handed over Yousuf to then IG Crime and he died in custody. “We strongly believe that Yousuf was murdered. He was tortured and put to death by Omar Abdullah and his close confidants including Nasir Aslam Wani, Davinder Singh Rana, and security officer of Chief Minister Shabir Ahmed,” he said.
“We have already approached Supreme Court against the Chief Minister and his confidants and the case has been listed for next hearing on January 5. We appeal Supreme Court to take cognizance of Omar Abdullah’s recent statement which made it clear that Haji Yousuf died in custody,” he said and added that they want immediate registration of FIR into the case so that guilty could be punished without fear or favour.
“There is no dearth of honest and intelligent police officers in Jammu and Kashmir. Some police officers should be entrusted with the job to probe the matter thoroughly. It was the height of coercion that a police officer did not dare to register an FIR against the accused after; we approached to him with a written complaint against the death of Haji Yousuf. We appeal Prime Minister Narendra Modi to personally intervene into the matter and direct Director General of Police to lodge an FIR against the four accused including Chief Minister Omar Abdullah,” Talib Hussain said.
He added that even key witnesses in Haji Yousuf’s case have opened up while the then IG crime Raja Ajaz Ali has also maintained that he (Yousuf) was harassed and tortured at CM residence. “We appeal the then IG Crime Branch to come forward and record his statement in the Court of Law,” he said.
Talib Hussain said that for him, there are only four accused who should be tried in the court of law. He however, said that NC Patron Dr Farooq Abdullah is also indirectly involved in the murder as according to him, it was a murky money deal and senior Abdullah was part of that deal.
The family of Haji Yousuf alleged that Omar Abdullah was saved and shielded by Congress party both at Union and State level. “It was Congress party which save and shielded Omar. They constituted Bedi Commission to hoodwink people and distort facts,” Talib said.
Haji Muhammad Hussain, the brother of deceased NC worker said that getting clean chit from the Bedi Commission could not absolve Omar Abdullah from his wrong doings. “We are pinning our hopes on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. If Modi is really serious about Kashmir and want justice to be delivered to them without any delay, then we request him to personnlay intereve into the matter and direct police to register an FIR against Omar Abdullah and his close confidants,” he said.
Responding to a question Talib Hussain said that they have already rejected the police report which claims that Yousuf died due to cardiac arrest. “That report was fudged and we don’t believe in the institution that is run by the accused himself,” he said.
He added that his father had close proximity with Abdullah family both Omar and Farooq were in touch with him.
Yousuf’s controversial death, on September 29, 2011, had led to a storm in the mainstream political camp as his family members and several opposition parties levelled allegations of “custodial killing” against the Chief Minister and a coterie of his confidantes.
