Shopian shuts as police fails to trace Shopian youth
A complete shutdown is being observed in Shopian town of South Kashmir against the “disappearance” of a local youth who police has claimed fled from their custody on May 1.
Scores of youth appeared in the old bus stand area of the town, raising slogans in favour of Zubair, pelted stones on parked vehicles resulting in partial damage to three vehicles.
The shopkeepers also pulled down their shutters and roads were deserted, eye witnesses said
The family of 23 old youngster Zubair Ahmad Turay described the “fleeing theory” as suspicious and expressed apprehensions about his well being.
According to the police, Zubair fled from police station Keegam on May 1 of this year.
According to the family sources, Zubair has been in and out of jails and police stations for a long time.
His close relative said he had been imprisoned nine times in cases registered against him under as many as 21 FIRs. He was detained under Public Safety Act for seven times.
Family of Zubair alleged that police had ruined the life of Zubair. They added he was arrested first when he was just 11 years old.
Zubair is affiliated with Syed Ali Shah Geelani led Hurriyat Conference and has been in jail or police remand since 2009.
Zubair’s cousin Mr Sammy Turrey while talking with Kashmir Vision said that police is silent; they haven’t taking any action against the policemen who were on duty when Zubair fled.
“Zubair has undergone two surgeries, he wasn’t able to walk fast how he could fled from police station and if anyhow he managed to get out of police station but police did not launched any search operation”, He said.
“Zubair’s detention was quashed by court on February 24 but he was released on February 28. Then he was rearrested two days later on unknown charges. We want to know on what charges he was in police custody after February 28” He told Kashmir Vision.
He added that Zubair is famous in Shopian for helping needy people and those injured in clashes.
While talking with Kashmir Vision his father Bashir Ahmad Turay said that, “I want to know, where is my son”.
Zubair was lodged in Udhampur jail thrice, once in Kathua jail in 2009 and many times in Srinagar Central Jail.
Zubairs father allege that police didn’t release him even to attend the funeral of his grandmother and marriage of his elder sister.
“I am old now and unable to work in orchards, police took away my support,” he said.
Zubair’s mother Saleema said we have spent lakhs of rupees on securing the release of my son and we have been doing rounds of police stations, courts and civil secteriat since 2004.
Zubair has two sisters Azra and Isra and a brother Arsalan
KV Correspondent
