New Delhi: The Jammu and Kashmir Police arrested four people on charges of waving flags of Shiite outfit Hezbollah during the procession of Muharram in Srinagar on Monday while several others were detained for questioning.
Sources in the police said that there were flags of Palestine and slogans were raised during the procession. Around 2 pm, when the procession of nearly 10,000 to 15,000 people was crossing M.A. Road, there were flags of the Iran-backed Hezbollah for which the FIR was filed, they added.
As per sources, the FIR was filed under Sections 223 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 152 (acts endangering sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita and Section 13 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act at the Kothibagh Police station in Srinagar.
Fostered by Iran after Israel’s invasion of Lebanon in 1982, Hezbollah has been banned as a terror outfit by several western countries such as the US, the UK, Germany and France as well as the European Union.
‘Brazen and bizarre’
Srinagar MP Ruhullah Mehdi condemned the detention and the case under the UAPA, saying that even if the youths have been booked for waving flags of Hezbollah, there are alternatives to convince them of the implications.
“Who had the guns and spreading violence and terrorist activities? The UAPA is for such offences? Even if they were raising the Hezbollah flag, they should have been sensitised. There is a concept called community policing. The problem is they see every Kashmiri as terrorists,” Mehdi told ThePrint.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief spokesperson Syed Suhail Bukhari said that even the United Nations have supported Palestine and that India is also part of it and hence the “brazen and bizarre” developments should be reversed immediately.
“Slapping youngsters with UAPA for raising pro-Palestine slogans is unfortunate and shows signs of anarchy,” Bukhari told ThePrint.
Conceived as an anti-terrorism legislation, the UAPA has no provision for anticipatory bail in cases of terrorism. Further, it is extremely tough to obtain bail after arrest.
Phone calls and WhatsApp messages to Inspector General of Police, Kashmir Zone, Vidhi Kumar Birdi and Srinagar Senior Superintendent of Police Ashish Mishra went unanswered till the publication of this report.
Iltija Mufti, the daughter of PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, also condemned the UAPA case against youths.
“We condemn the slapping of stringent UAPA against youth of Kashmir for their protests without any investigation or due process. The BJP-led government was talking about some sections of the Indian Constitution not applicable to Jammu and Kashmir before abrogation of Article 370. There should be a counter question on which Constitution is now applicable in Kashmir where the DGP accuses mainstream political parties of harbouring terrorism,” Mufti told ThePrint
“I have seen youth protesting against Palestine and atrocities committed by Israel on Palestinians. Showing solidarity with Palestine is not such an offence that it would attract the UAPA. Administration is slapping UAPA charges overlooking its grave implication on the future of youth booked under this law,” she added.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
Also Read: ITBP apprehends 2 local men for smuggling 108 kg gold near China border in Eastern Ladakh
There is no such thing as moderate Islam. Be it Shias or Sunnis, hardline radicalism is at the core of their beliefs.