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Kashmiri Arrested in Indian State is Innocent

By Fayaz Wani

Srinagar, March 15: The family members of a 31-year old Kashmiri youth Bashir Ahmad Baba, who was arrested by police of the Indian state of Gujarat yesterday, have said he is innocent and was implicated in a false case.

Baba was arrested on charges of identifying vulnerable youth, brainwashing them and sending them to Pakistan for arms training.

However, Baba's family members said he was just a camp coordinator of Kimaaya, a cleft centre and craniofacial research institute. "Bashir had gone to Ahmedabad a month back for training and for establishing his own cleft centre," said Nazir Ahmad Baba, Bashir's brother, adding, "This is how Kashmiris are being treated in different India states. We are skeptical about his future".

"Gujrat police is lying. He is innocent. Police has implicated my brother on false charges. The Chief Minister of Kashmir Omar Abdullah should talk to the chief minister of Gujarat and get the arrested youth released respectably," said Tasleema, sister of Baba, a resident of Surteng Rainawari in old city.

Baba's family members said they came to know about his arrest only yesterday when his pictures and news was flashed on Indian television channels.

Police chief of Kashmir, Farooq Ahmad had on Sunday said Baba was earlier detained in Srinagar under an Explosive Substance Act.

However, police was unable to prove the charges labeled against Baba.

His family members maintain that they themselves took Bashir to police station after policemen visited their home and were looking for him. "We took him to the police station. How come they recovered explosives from him," he said.

Fayaz Wani reports on life in Srinagar, Kashmir.