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Son, Relative of Hardline Huriyat Spokesman Arrested in Kashmir

By Fayaz Wani

The son and a close relative of hardline separatist amalgam, Huriyat conference spokesman, Ayaz Akbar were arrested by anti-counter insurgency group of Jammu and Kashmir police from the outskirts of the summer capital in restive Kashmir.

Talking to Newsblaze, the Huriyat spokesman, Ayaz Akbar said that his son, Mohammad Yaqoob, a 2nd Year student studying in Amar Singh College, Srinagar along with his cousin, Bilal Ahmad Dar were waiting for a passenger bus near Shalateng crossing this afternoon when a policy gypsy stopped in front of them. The policemen alighted from the vehicle bundled both of them in the gypsy and took them to a notorious police camp, known as Air Cargo", he said.

Another relative of Ayaz Akbar, namely Farooq Ahmad Reshi, who was picked up by police personnel this morning, was set free before noon.

Ayaz said that at around 4.30 pm, three armed men in civvies carrying a bag forced their entry into the cowshed of their house at Shalteng. "My family members saw them and followed them. They were carrying the bag and claimed that it was recovered from the cowshed. However, when the family members complained, they harassed them and threatened them of dire consequences. When my family members raised a hue and cry, the police men in civvies fled from the spot", he said.

He said that both his son and Bilal were innocent and not remotely connected to militancy.

The chairperson of the hardline faction of Huriyat Conference, Syed Ali Shah Geelani has strongly condemned the arrest of the son and relative of Huriyat (G) spokesperson. He also condemned the harassment being meted out to the family members by security agency personnel.

He said that such types of pressure tactics would not cow down the separatists, fighting against Indian rule.

Fayaz Wani reports on life in Srinagar, Kashmir.