Relatives of prisoners seek their release on Eid eve
Anantnag: The relatives of around one dozen prisoners who have been lodged in different jails have demanded their release ahead of Eid festival.
They demanded that the detained men should be released on humanitarian ground from jails soon so that they are also able to celebrate the festival of Eid with their families.
Family of Sarjan Ahmad Wagay alias Barkati resident of Reban village in Shopian district who was arrested in October 2016 agitation has urged government authorities to release him ahead of Eid ul Azha.
He has completed around four years in jail and his family who are in dire straits are desperately waiting for his release.
Shabroza Banoo, wife of Barkati said that all the FIRs that were registered against him in different police stations of south Kashmir were quashed way back before however, he still continues to be in jail.
“I don’t know why he continues to remain in jail for his speeches despite that other religious scholars who were arrested with him were released but Sarjan continues to be detained,” she said.
“How long my parents and other well wishers will take care of our expenses and I feel ashamed as we have been dependent on them for quite long,” she added.
She requested government authorities especially Lt Guv G C Murmu to release him ahead of Eid so that they too can celebrate Eid happily.
“My children Sugra and Azan are so much depressed in absence of their father. I request authorities that the biggest gift from your side for this poor family will be if my husband is released on Eid,” she said.
Notably, Barkati is a popular cleric from south Kashmir who was also a senior leader of Ummat e Islami Jammu and Kashmir.
Meanwhile, Family members of Peerzada Ashraf son of Peerzada Ghulam Nabi resident of Batgund village of Verinag who is under detention from the last 14 years have also appealed the government to release him ahead of Eid.
Ashraf was arrested in 2006 in connection with a grenade attack in July 2004 at Kapran Anantnag.
During the attack, the then deputy CM Mangat Ram Sharma had a narrow escape however, senior official of Roads and Building department, two civilians and few policeman lost their life.
Ashraf at that time was student of B. A 3rd year at Boys Degree college Anantnag besides he was working as daily wager in R&B department, said his brother Firdous Ahmad.
“The prime accused in the case was Syed Murtaza who was arrested soon after the incident but was set free as he was granted bail after being jailed for two years,” he said.
“However, my innocent brother who was not involved in the attack continues to remain in jail from the last 14 days,” he added.
“He is very ill and he was operated thrice in Jail, however, he wasn’t even brought to any local jail,” he said, adding that we have been moving from pillar to lost to get him released, however, no justice was done.
Meanwhile families of other prisoners who have been arrested before or after August 05 have also sought their release ahead of Eid.
