Political reaction
The recent arrest of the local activist in Ganderbal district for speaking his mind has resulted in political reactions in Kashmir valley. Most of the political leaders including former chief minister Omar Abdullah have reacted to his arrest and have termed his detention as unwarranted and have sought his release.
“I haven’t come across a worse reason to detain a person and I was detained for encouraging people to vote so that’s saying something. It’s unacceptable that a person should be jailed for expressing a totally harmless opinion. This is what happens when bureaucratic power is unbridled,” former chief minister Omar Abdullah was quoted by a reputed news organization of Delhi.
Mohammad Yousuf Taragami who is a known leftist leader in Jammu and Kashmir has in a statement termed the move as a “brazen misuse of power”.
He also urged J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to intervene in the matter and ensure that the detained activist is released immediately.
Police booked 52-year-old Sajad Rashid Sofi under Section 153 of the Indian Penal Code (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc.) after he told Baseer Ahmad Khan, the J&K LG’s advisor that since he was a Kashmiri he could seek answers from him but he has no expectations from non local officers.
The deputy commissioner of Ganderbal, Krittika Jyotsna, who is an IAS officer from UP cadre, took exception to Sofi’s remarks and on June 10 an FIR was lodged against him and he was arrested.
