India: Kashmiri students arrested in UP

India: Kashmiri students arrested in UP

28-05-2012
Srinagar, (Greter Kashmir): The arrest of two Kashmiri students by Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of Uttar Pradesh Police has trigged panic among Kashmiri students studying there.


While Jammu and Kashmir government seems to be unaware of the detentions, interestingly, Muslim politicians from Uttar Pradesh including those of the ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) have approached Chief Minister Akhilesh Singh Yadav’s office to get the duo released.

Sajjad Ahmad Bhat and Wasim Ahmad Bhat aged 20, students of Jamiat-ul-Falah were allegedly picked by UP police on May 24.

The family of the duo hailing from Tarzoo area of Sopore told Greater Kashmir that the boys were pursuing religious education in UP.

“Sajjad was not well for the past few days. He had left along with his cousin Wasim for home on May 23. We were hoping that they will return shortly. But we were shocked to learn this morning that they have been detained by UP police,” Sajjad’s father Ghulam Rasool Bhat said.

“The duo are innocent and are not remotely connected with any subversive activity,” he added.

Sajjad Ahmed Bhat was student of Arabi Awwal (first year of 5-year Arabic course) and Wasim Ahmed Bhat was studying in the second year of the same course.

Talking to Greater Kashmir over phone from Azamgarh, Director of Jamiat-ul-Falah Maulana Tahir Madni said the two students of their institution, Sajjad and Wasim, were arrested from Aligarh.

“They boarded a train from here on May 23 and on next morning ATS of UP police picked up them at Aligarh Railway Station without citing any reason,” they said.

“Neither we have been informed about detentions nor have they been presented in the court. This is a serious case of human rights violation and we will launch agitation if they are not released forthwith,” he said, adding UP police is trying to implicate them in false cases.

Madni said they have approached office of UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and minister Azam Khan –Muslim face of Samajwadi party- to get the duo released.

He said the “illegal” arrests have triggered panic among Kashmiri students in the northern state.

“We have also filed complaint of abduction for illegal detention of the students,” Madni added.

Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party leader Dr Tasleem Rahmani this afternoon sent an email to UP CM’s office informing his about the incident. Dr Rahmani also called OSD of the CM urging him to take notice of the issue and place it before the CM.

Rahmani said this all is a conspiracy to make innocents criminals. “Young chief minister should take notice of it and do justice. UP ATS comes under UP Government. He should immediately stop cruelty on innocents as this is affecting the image of the govt and CM,” said Dr Rahmani.

While Muslim politicians in UP, perhaps for the first time, have raised hue and cry over the detentions, JK Government seems to be unaware of the arrests of its citizens.

Repeated attempts to contact Minister of State for Home Nasir Aslam to know about the efforts being made by JK government to locate the whereabouts of duo, as he did not pick up the phone.

Meanwhile, UP police denied of having arrested two Kashmiri students.
“I have no information about such arrests. Even I contacted ATS, they were unaware,” SSP Aligarh Piyush Mordia told this newspaper.
“It is better you talk to ATS directly, “he added.

http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/2012/May/28/kashmiri-students-arrested-in-up-45.asp