Are they militants? Relatives of politicians ask outside Kashmir detention centre

Relatives of detained political leaders and workers queue up outside convention centre in Srinagar to meet them, some allowed a glimpse.

File image of security personnel standing guard in Srinagar (representational image) | PTI

Srinagar: Nuzhar Ishfaq had not seen her husband, a former National Congress (NC) MLA from Gandarbal, and her father, also a former MLA from Hazratbal, for a week.

On Eid al-Adha Monday, the 38-year-old waited outside Srinagar’s Sher-I Kashmir International Conference Centre with her two sons — aged 8 and 12 — for at least two hours just to hear from and wish them.

According to Nuzhar, her husband Sheikh Ishfaq Jabbar and father Mohammad Syed Akhoon had been “detained” five days ago.

She wasn’t the only one. There were several others who waited to know the whereabouts of their relatives. According to reports, over 500 political workers and leaders have been detained since the government decided to revoke provisions of Article 370 and bifurcate Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories.

However, while many of the family members said the detained leaders were kept inside the Sher-I Kashmir International Conference Centre, when ThePrint visited the place, the administration refused to comment on the ‘detentions’, and claimed no one was held inside.

Nuzhar Ishfaq and her children were however allowed to eventually see Jabbar once — inside the centre. They could only see him, though, not talk to him, she said.

‘Kept under house arrest first’

Ishfaq claimed that the police came to their house around 7.30 pm on 7 August and took away her husband with them. Her father too was similarly taken away.

She also said both men were put under house arrest hours after Home Minister Amit Shah announced repeal of Article 370 in Parliament on 5 August.

“Soon after the announcement, police came to the houses of both Jabbar and Akhoon, and removed the SSG (Special Security Group) protection they had. Both men were put under house arrest and eight SSB (Sashastra Seema Bal) personnel stood on guard for two days. On 7 August, they were taken away,” said a family member of Akhoon who did not wish to be named. “They were just allowed to take clothes with them, and since then we have not seen him.”

Among other leaders who are said to have been detained are Mohammad Yusuf Bhatt (PDP president, Gandarbal), Sahil Farooq (Congress district president of Gandarbal), and Sheikh Gulam Ahmad Saloora (PDP district president).

‘Are they militants?’

Ishfaq asked why local leaders were being rounded up. “We have always supported the Indian state. Why are they doing this to us? My father and husband are not militants. Why are they being caged like this? This is a betrayal,” she said.

She also fears that the two men may be booked under PSA (Public Safety Act) which allows the Jammu and Kashmir government to detain any person without trial for a period of two years.

The Act has been termed draconian by many.

“We were told by some people that the authorities have detained people under PSA and they will not be released till a new government is in place in the state,” Ishfaq said.

“We are so helpless. If politicians who are Indians are being treated like this, who will assure the locals of safety,” she added.

‘Assembly election will be a sham’

Another man, who did not want to be named, stood outside the centre to meet a friend.

“The government’s intention is to keep them here until the elections are completed. The government will then have its own candidates, its own faces. Saying that Kashmir will have an assembly and Kashmiris will be able to elect a chief minister of their choice is a sham,” he said.

He added that the government should have kept the people of Kashmir “in loop” before deciding to strip the state of its special status. “It should have at least informed people beforehand. If this is a good decision then why isn’t the government lifting the curfew, letting people go out of their homes to celebrate Eid?”

‘Saw him for a minute, wasn’t allowed to talk’

When Ishfaq and her two sons were finally allowed to meet Jabbar, they went inside the centre relieved, but came out disappointed.

“Jabbar came out only for a minute. He just waved at us from a distance. We were then asked to leave,” she said.

“Is he a militant? They showed him to us for only two minutes. We could not exchange a single dialogue. Not even wish him for Eid. I feel terrible. It is like a jail,” she said.

Upset over not being able to celebrate Eid this time, one of her sons said, “Earlier, Eid celebrations would begin two-three days in advance. We would go shopping. We haven’t bought anything this year. No new clothes. We won’t even do the sacrifice this year.”

His aunt interrupted, “Is this normal? Militancy nai uthegi toh kya uthega. Toofan uthna chahiye (What else but militancy will take place now. There should be a storm). Now if the boys do not pick up guns, who will?”