Irfan A Mir
Srinagar, July 19 (KNS): A private school teacher and a former activist of banned outfit Jama’at-e-Islami J&K from north Kashmir’s Kupwara district was booked under Public Safety Act (PSA) and has been shifted to sub-jail Kupwara.
Zahoor Abbass Khan (39) son of Mohammad Abbas Khan of Devar Lolab, according to family sources, was arrested on July 7 and was lodged in Police Station Lolab, however on July 18 he was booked under stringent law Public Safety Act (PSA) and was shifted to sub-jail Kupwara.
“Prior to July 7 he was summoned by PS Lolab and when he along with some family members approached there, he was detained”, family said adding, “When argued about his detention, police officials said, we don’t know, we have received directions from higher-ups”.
As per sources, Abbass, a teacher by profession, was former activist of Islami Jamiat-e-Tulaba and after his retirement from the organization, he joined Jama’at-e-Islami J&K, which had been banned on February 28, 2019 on the directions of Union Home Ministry headed by Amit Shah.
Abbass, a former district president of IJT, has been accused of holding secret meetings with Jama’at-e-Islami cadres in the area despite ban and mobilizing funds to help detainees of Jama’at-e-Islami cadres, family said.
“In wake of Covid-19 lockdown situation, some youth of the area voluntarily came up and distributed food kits among needy families which had no association with any organization, police whatever in its dossier mentioned is a white lie”, family said.
It is pertinent to mention since February 22, 2019 authorities detained hundreds of Jama’at leaders and activists across Valley, which after a week was banned for engaging in “subversive” activities in J&K.
Earlier authorities booked JeI chief spokesperson Advocate Zahid Ali on July 3 and shifter him to Central Jail Srinagar. Ali who was taken away by police on June 30 from his residence in Nehama Pulwama, was lodged in PS Kakapora for several days. Prior to his new detention he was released three months ago after remained in jail for over a year. According to reports several Jama’at members were also arrested by police and have been booked under PSA since July 08.
“Zahoor Abbass Khan is holding a post of Ameer-e-Halqa Lolab of JeI, besides is also in close contact with militant outfits and is supporting extremism and militancy in Jammu and Kashmir and elsewhere”, dossier compiled by Kupwara Police mentions.
It also said, “It has been assessed that the subject being a hard-core associate is a constant threat to the security of the State and hell-bent on challenging the sovereignty and integrity of the country. It is strongly felt that if the subject is permitted to remain at large, he will continue advocating the secession of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir from the union of India”.
Meanwhile family of Zahoor Abbass Khan vehemently contested the allegations leveled in dossier. “Whatever has been mentioned in dossier is a brazen and blatant lie against my brother. We will knock the doors of court and fight injustice in a democratic way”, Tahir Abbas brother of the detainee told KNS.
“Local police station, CID and CIK wings found no adverse after re-verifying the antecedents of Zahoor, however they clearly told us we have strict orders from higher-ups to book him under PSA”, he claimed. (KNS)