Liyaqat Ali Shah Case: Wife Questions Delhi Police Narrative
Husband Was Asked to Board Security Vehicle After Crossing Nepal Border
Srinagar, March 23, KNT: The wife of Kashmiri militant Liyaqat Ali Shah on Saturday alleged that Delhi Police had “enacted a drama” regarding the arrest of her husband, claiming that the couple had travelled from the Indo–Nepal border to Gorakhpur in a security vehicle before his detention.
Speaking after reaching her residence in Dardpora area of Kupwara, Akhtar-u-Nisa, the wife of Liyaqat Ali Shah, told the news agency Kashmir News Trust that the couple crossed into India from Nepal and found a security vehicle waiting for them at the border.
“Once we crossed the Nepal border, an Indian security vehicle was waiting for us. We boarded that vehicle and travelled towards Gorakhpur,” she said.
According to her account, the vehicle carried security personnel who accompanied them during the journey. She claimed that near Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh, the officers asked her husband to step out and accompany them.
“My husband was directed to de-board and go with the sleuths. Later we came to know that Delhi Police Special Cell had announced his arrest in a completely different way,” she said.
Akhtar-u-Nisa alleged that the police version of the arrest was misleading and suggested that authorities attempted to portray the incident as a major security operation.
“Delhi Police enacted a drama. They tried to give the impression that a Kashmiri youth was planning an attack on the eve of Holi. We were not carrying any kind of arms or ammunition,” she said.
She further claimed that during the journey from the border they even had lunch with the security personnel accompanying them.
Meanwhile, police sources said that Liyaqat Ali Shah’s first wife, Amina Banoo, had earlier submitted an application under the Jammu and Kashmir government’s Rehabilitation Policy seeking his return.
According to officials, the application was filed at Police Station Kupwara in 2011.
“Amina Banoo submitted a form under the rehabilitation policy for the surrender of her husband. The application was registered as Form No. 74 dated February 5, 2011,” a police official said.
Akhtar-u-Nisa also stated that her husband had been returning to Kashmir with the intention of surrendering before authorities when he was detained by Delhi Police’s Special Cell.
She reached Kupwara from New Delhi on Saturday along with her 20-year-old daughter and reported their arrival at Police Station Kralapora, police officials said.
Expressing anguish over the situation, she said life had become extremely difficult for Kashmiris.
“It is very hard to live in Kashmir. To be a Kashmiri feels like a sin and I regret my decision to accompany my husband,” she said.
The arrest of Liyaqat Ali Shah by Delhi Police had earlier triggered controversy after authorities claimed he was planning militant activity, while his family maintained he was returning under the rehabilitation policy to surrender. [KNT]
