SRINAGAR: The police on Saturday produced the detained journalist Asif Sultan before the court and his judicial remand was extended up to October 1, reports said.
Sources privy of the hearing details said the judge extended the remand by a week. However, the bail plea that has been moved by his family is listed for Tuesday.
Sultan, a journalist with Kashmir Narrator magazine, was arrested by police for his alleged involvement with militancy early September. Srinagar journalists have been demanding his release and almost all the media watchdogs have been seeking his release. His employers say the case is fabricated and the scribe was actually arrested for writing a longer copy on Burhan Wani, the top Hizb militant, whose killing in July 2016, led to a mass unrest.
After the hearing was over, Sultan’s picture appeared on the social media. In this photograph, the young man is seen in his chains wearing the same old t-shirt with the slogan – journalism is not a crime. In today’s picture, he is seen embracing his daughter while talking to his father, Mohammad Sultan Saida.
Asif was summoned by police for many days and finally arrested during August 31 night from his Batamaloo residence. They also seized his laptop and phone.
Police claimed they seized “incriminating material” at Sultan’s home which established his complicity in “harbouring known terrorists.” On September 8, a court in Srinagar sent Sultan in 15 days judicial custody. He was immediately sent to Central Jail Srinagar. Police had accused him of “glorifying” militancy through his news reports. His father and the employer have denied the allegations.
