Shutdown observed in Sumbal against arrest of local youth by Delhi Police
Member of Legislative Council and senior political leader Yasir Reshi said he was in contact with authorities in Delhi regarding the case.
Bandipora, Jan 28, KNT: Sumbal town in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district observed a shutdown on Monday against the arrest of a local youth by the Delhi Police, with traders and transporters suspending business activities and residents staging protests demanding his release.
The arrested youth has been identified as Hilal Ahmad Bhat, a resident of Wani Mohalla Sumbal, who was taken into custody last week by a team of Delhi Police Special Cell.
Family members of Bhat said that army personnel and local police had asked them to present him before Sumbal Police Station. They alleged that when Hilal appeared at the police station, he was handed over to a Delhi Police team and subsequently shifted to Delhi.
Traders in Sumbal had called for a shutdown to protest the arrest.
Reports said family members of the detained youth, members of the Traders Federation and the Sumo Drivers Association assembled at the main chowk in Sumbal and staged a protest before marching through the town.
The protesters demanded the immediate release of Hilal Ahmad Bhat.
A family member of the detained youth said that a team of Delhi Police Special Cell, accompanied by Sumbal police and army personnel, had picked him up from his home on January 23.
“A team of Delhi Police Special Cell along with Sumbal police and a unit of army picked up Hilal from his home and shifted him to Delhi without informing us about the reason for his arrest,” the family member said.
The family maintained that Hilal was innocent and demanded his immediate release.
“We were told that he would be released after questioning. He is innocent and we want him to be brought back,” the family member said.
A complete shutdown was observed across Sumbal following the call issued by the traders’ federation and the Sumo Drivers Association. Shops and other business establishments remained closed while traffic stayed largely off the roads.
A police official said Hilal Ahmad Bhat had been arrested in connection with FIR No. 17/2019 registered at Police Station Special Cell Delhi.
The official said the case had been registered under sections 25, 27, 54 and 59 of the Indian Arms Act along with sections 16, 18, 18-B and 20 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
“He was shifted to Delhi for further investigation into the case,” the official said.
Meanwhile, Member of Legislative Council and senior political leader Yasir Reshi said he was in contact with authorities in Delhi regarding the case.
Reshi said he was making efforts to ensure the release of the Sumbal youth currently in the custody of the Delhi Police Special Cell. [KNT]
