Srinagar
The scientific fraternity of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir are up in arms against the “arbitrary quizzing” of Dr Naseem Geelani, Senior Scientist Faculty of Forestry, SKUAST-Kashmir and son of octogenarian Hurriyat Patriarch Syed Ali Geelani, by the Indian federal investigation agency, NIA.
In an emergency meeting of the apex scientists association, SKUAST-K Scientists and Teachers Association (SSTA), Shalimar Campus urged the state chief minister and home minister of India not to implicate their scientists arbitrarily.
“Arbitrary summoning and quizzing of Dr Geelani amounts to harassment and mental torture of such a scientist of repute, besides affecting the university academics,” President SSTA, Dr SA Dar said.
“We have already made it clear that we are not opposing the enquiry conducted by National Investigation Agency (NIA) but the quizzing should be as per law and to the minimum disadvantage of the scientist and the university,” the President said.
Dr Geelani was summoned by the NIA twice and has attended two rounds of questioning from August 8, 2017 to August 11, 2017 and August 25, 2017 to August 30, 2017.
Geelani was summoned again on September 25, 2017 to NIA headquarters in New Delhi.
“The time of Scientist is very precious and by frequent calling to New Delhi, a lot of time is involved in this process and by these means the Scientist is losing the opportunities in his teaching, research and other academic activities which are going to affect his career besides the academic activities of the university in a very worst manner,” the president said.
“We are hopeful of professional approach of the NIA and urge the organization to make it convenient to quiz Dr Geelani following due process of Law. Further we appeal his quizzing be at Srinagar or through telecommunication and he may not be summoned to Delhi that besides making burden on his pocket, affects academic activities of the university.”
SSTA also appealed Governor Vohra, who is also the Chancellor of SKUAST-K, to intervene into the matter.
