Srinagar, January 17
The last month’s attack on Parliament House has added to the “travails” of Kashmiris living in Delhi and elsewhere following stepped-up operations by the police and intelligence agencies against militants.
This is so even as the central government has issued directions to all state governments “to remain careful” and not to harass civilians while dealing with suspicious elements.
The fresh operations were launched following a tip-off from Mohammad Afzal, arrested by the police in connection with the attack on Parliament House. Several others were picked up and Delhi residents directed to inform the police about their tenants.
The body of a 22-year old student, Zafar Iqbal, from the Dalgate area in Srinagar, was brought here from Delhi on January 4. He had been allegedly killed by the police in custody which led to protests here.
The incident created fear among the local residents about the welfare of their relatives living outside the valley.
In order to avoid any “undue harassment” by the police, a number of people, going outside the valley in connection with their businesses have been approaching the police and civil officials concerned for character certificates. Many such certificates have been issued in Anantnag district in South Kashmir.
“We have been approaching the police and the district administration for these certificates for our safety”, said a businessman from Anantnag, who was scheduled to visit Delhi. “This practice continued last year also, particularly when Republic Day and Independence Day were approaching, he added. “I have delayed my visit by a week as I an awaiting the receipt of a character certificate”, he said, adding that he suffered heavy losses due to the delay in the transportation of the requisite material.
The character certificate issued by the Additional District Magistrate states that the person “bears good moral character and reputation. He is allowed to proceed to Delhi in connection with business”. The “permission” to visit Delhi has also the photograph of the person affixed on it.
The Deputy Commissioner who is also the District Magistrate, Anantnag, told TNS that after the September 11 atacks in the USA and the December 13 attack on Parliament House, residents had been approaching the authorities for such certificates. The certificates were issued after police verification, he added. There were certain instance of alleged harassment of businessmen who had gone to Delhi in connection with the purchase of property, he claimed.
A number of people here alleged that their relatives, including students, labourers and contractors were being harassed and several of them had been arrested in the recent weeks. “Some contractors working outside the state for over five years had winded up their business and returned here following harassment by the police”, said a resident of Kupwara district. “Some of them have been arrested by the police”, said a resident of Kupwara, adding that Ghulam Mustafa Khan of Kukroosa village was one of those arrested by the police in Chamba. Worried about his welfare, his family members have been asked to get a “clearance certificate” from the policemen concerned.
There were also reports about the arrest of “four Lashkar-e-Toiba militants”, all of them residents of Anantnag district in South Kashmir, in Delhi earlier this week. A report from the district suggested that they were “ordinary students” from the Dayalgam area and were not even remotely connected with militancy. The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ashok Bhan, said he had no information about the arrest of the four youths. This is despite the fact that the northern states have formed a core group for the exchange of information related to security in their respective areas.
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