KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
Expressing his deep concern and anguish over the arrest of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat (TeH) activist and assistant manager of “Millat Publications”, Ashiq Hussain Sofi by the SOG group of the J&K Police, Hurriyat patriarch Syed Ali Geelani Wednesday demanded his immediate release.
“Ashiq is a responsible official of a Publications Institute and his arrest has no moral and constitutional justification,” All Parties Hurriyat Conference (g) chairperson said in a statement issued this evening. TeH is a constituent of Hurriyat Conference (g).
“The Special Operations Group (SOG) of the police raided the residence of Ashiq Hussain Sofi in Khanyar in the intervening night of 31st May and 1 June and they not only harassed the inmates there but the SOG personnel arrested Mr Ashiq without any court order,” the octogenarian leader said.
“When the family members of Ashiq Hussain went to Khanyar police station on Wednesday morning but they didn’t find their kin. The family enquired about him from the SHO concerned, they were informed that Ashiq Hussain has been arrested by the SOG and has been detailed in Cargo headquarter in Srinagar,” the Hurriyat Conference (g) statement said.
“According to the family, when they visited the Cargo Srinagar they were informed there that the SOG hasn’t arrested their ward nor is he with them,” the statement informed.
Expressing his deep concern over the arrest of Ashiq Hussain and then the denial of the police, Geelani cautioned that any untoward with Ashiq Sahab will have serious consequences and its responsibility will be on police.
He expressed his apprehension that the Ashiq “will be subjected to the custodial violence”. “The SOG in Kashmir holds worst track record and this force is involved in thousands of extra-judicial killings in the Valley and has rendered thousands of people disable by subjecting them to third degree torture. This force is fond of killing and torturing the innocent people and they have been created to break the resolve of the Kashmiri people with their cruel and oppressive behaviour,” Geelani added.
The ailing leader stated that the activities of Ashiq Hussain Sofi are “limited to publication institution namely “Millat Publication” and he is only involved in sale and purchase of the books”.
“He should be immediately released because his detention has no justifications,” Geelani said appealing human rights organizations to take serious notice of the “illegal” detention of Ashiq Hussain Sofi and use their influence for his release.
Meanwhile, the statement said that Tehreek-e-Hurriyat Jammu and Kashmir is organizing a daylong seminar at Hyderpora on 5 June Sunday at 10:30 am to welcome the holy month of Ramadan in which many prominent speakers have been invited to shed light on the blessings of this month.
The seminar will be presided over by the Chairperson Hurriyat Conference (g) Syed Ali Geelani.
“Tehreek-e-Hurriyat appeals the people in general and its activists in particular to participate in the said seminar,” the statement added.
