Police foils protest by PDP leaders, several detained
Detained leaders released after signing ‘surety bonds’
Srinagar: Several PDP leaders were on Thursday detained by police as they tried to stage a protest against the new land laws notified by the Centre for Jammu and Kashmir.
PDP leader Khursheed Alam, party spokesman Suhail Bukhari and youth president Waheed Parra were among those detained by police as they came out of the party’s Srinagar office at Sher-e-Kashmir Municipal Park, officials said.
The party leaders wanted to hold a protest rally against the amendments made to the land laws of the Union territory by the Centre on Tuesday which allow people from other parts of the country to buy land in the region.
The mainstream parties of Kashmir have decried the amendments and termed the move akin to putting Jammu and Kashmir up for sale.
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti tried to reach the PDP office, but was asked by the police to return to her residence.
Addressing reporters at her Gupkar residence, Mehbooba said the party leaders were protesting the new land laws, but no one was allowed to speak in Kashmir.
“Our protest was against the laws passed for looting the resources of Jammu and Kashmir But no one is allowed to speak here,” she said accusing the BJP of pursuing communal agenda.
“I am glad that people of Jammu and Ladakh too have realized the essence of people’s alliance for Gupkar declaration as intentions of BJP led government at the Centre are quite clear now,” she said, adding that “it’s time for a united battle against GoI anti-J&K policy.”
“I am not going to sit idle and will fight Center’s open loot in J&K. They are stealing our resources. Everyday there is a new announcement from Centre. The latest it repealing of land laws and allowing outsiders to buy land in J&K. This is just an election stunt as polls are round the corner in Bihar and then elections will be held in West Bengal too,” she said.
Mehbooba said that earlier domicile law was introduced and then government announced that it can axe any government employee after 22 years of service. “I won’t allow this open loot. In other Indian states, people have no food to eat, but BJP government wants them to buy land in J&K,” she said, adding that “Today J&K has been converted into a big jail.”
Asked about her next step, she said: “Sarfaroshi ki tamana ab hamaray dil mei hai, dekhna hai zoor kitna bazuway kaatil mei hai.”
Meanwhile, the detained leaders were released after signing surety bonds in the local court in Srinagar.
An order issued in this regard by Executive Magistrate Ist Class ( Tehsildar South Srinagar) Surety persons have appeared before this court and gave written surety bonds to the tune of Rs 10,000. As such you are hereby directed to release the accused persons who are under judicial custody.”
Soon after the order nineteen PDP leaders who signed surety bonds before the local court were released from Police Station Kothi Bagh.
Court has also directed all the nineteen accused PDP leaders to remain present before the court on 5th November.
Those who have signed surety bonds include Khursheed Alam, Abdul Hameed Kohsheen, Waheed-ur-Rehman Para, Abdul Rouf Bhat, Tahir Syed, Mohammad Yaseen Bhat, Mohsin Quyoom Wani, Bilal Ahmad Pandith, Arif Laigaroo, Mohammad Umar Dar, Mustakeen Khan, Shahnawaz Ahmad Mir, Dr. Harbakash Singh, Suhail Bukhari, Mohit Bhan, Touseef Shah, Umer Dar, Ghulam Rasool Dar, and Mohammad Altaf Bhat.
KV News
