Banihal, July 16:(KNS)   Terming the arrest of J&K Youth National Conference activist Tariq Ahmed Dar and slapping PSA on him as unjustified and dissolute, National Conference leader and District President Ramban Sajjad Shaheen has condemned the slapping of PSA on party’s youth provincial Vice president and sending him to Kot Bhalwal Jail, Jammu.
 
In a statement to KNS, reads, while addressing a press conference along with President Beopar Mandal Banihal Mr. Nasir Ahmed Wani, Secretary Beopar Mandal Mushtaq Ahmed Wani, Municipal councillor Ashok Kumar, Senior party functionaries besides civil society members Vivek Mahajan, Ayush Sadhotra and members of the youth wing of the Party at Dak Bungalow Banihal  today, Shaheen castigated the district administration for taking such a harsh decision and implicating him falsely. “ I am very sad and disturbed  that the type of decision the Administration has taken  will further alienate the people of Jammu and Kashmir and particularly the youth.”, he said.
 
He further said that “Tariq was part of a peaceful protest demanding due compensation to families, whose lands were procured by the government for the purpose of four-laning of  Jammu – Srinagar National highway at Banihal and for this reason, he was arrested and all kinds of baseless charges have been leveled against him. Shaheen  said that Tariq Ahmed Dar along with others were protesting against far less compensation given to locals for land acquisition in the three villages, Kharpora, Gundadalkote, and Devgol. “It is sad to see him being booked under the PSA for agitating the issue,” He said that the dossier prepared by the district administration is far from reality.”
 
“It is very unfortunate to see the administration going down to such a level. Tariq was only giving voice to the voiceless and helping the locals to get their voices heard in the power corridors. The crackdown is an overboard attempt to choke a critical voice, The move is baseless and points towards the emergency-like situation in Jammu and Kashmir.  Sadly the law is being used to get mainstream political activists out of circulation.” Shaheen added

Shaheen condemned the measure and demanded immediate revocation of PSA and release of the youth activist whose devotion to public service and values of democracy are recognized by one and all.(KNS)