Families vouch for the innocent
New Delhi- Five people including three Kashmiris were arrested after an encounter with police in East Delhi’s Shakarpur area and it is suspected that some of them might have links to militant groups, officials said on Monday.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Pramod Singh Kushwah said, “We have apprehended five persons after an exchange of fire. Weapons and other incriminating material have also been recovered from their possession.”
Two of them are from Punjab and three belong to Kashmir, he said.
Some of them are suspected to have links with militant groups but this is being verified, he said, adding that further investigation is underway.
Meanwhile families of the three here refuted the claims of the Special Cell of Delhi Police that a trio arrested by them have links with militant outfits.
Three Kashmiri men who were arrested by police hail from Central Kashmir’s Budgam district. They are Reyaz Ahmed Rather and Shabir Ahmed Gojri, both residents of Nasrullah Pora and Muhammad Ayoub Pathan of Gondhipora village.
The family members of all these arrested men talked to news agency Kashmir News Trust and vouched for their innocence.
Shaista- wife of Shabir Ahmed Gojri said her husband visits the shrine of Ajmeer Sharif every year and this time another youth from the same village Reyaz Ahmed accompanied him. “My husband had to pay obeisance at Ajmeer Sharif while Reyaz being a Welding expert had to get some stuff from Delhi,” she said adding that on Sunday late evening, her husband informed that he is alright.
“My husband is a tipper driver with a clean police record. We were shocked over the claim made by Delhi Police,” she said adding that Shabir is the sole breadwinner of the family comprising old parents and two little sisters.
Muhammad Shafi Rather, father of Reyaz Ahmed also vouched for the innocence of his son saying he had gone to Delhi for the first time in life. “My son is unmarried who had gone to Delhi to purchase some welding stuff,” he said and sought intervention of Jammu and Kashmir Police.
“My son has a clear police record who has never ever been arrested for anything wrong,” Rather said.
Muhammad Ayoub Pathan, a resident of Gondhipora Budgam who is one among arrested by Delhi Police according to his family had gone to Delhi to purchase construction material. “We are constructing a house and for this purpose Pathan left for Delhi two days ago to get some material,” his family members said.
Pathan is the father of 3 daughters and 2 sons. One of his sons is in police custody for his alleged involvement in Lawaypora militant attack in February this year.
Two militants Zia-ur-Rehman of Arth Budgam and Khateeb of Wagam Bijbehara were killed in Lawaypora shootout on 5 February this year. A trooper Ramesh Ranjan was also killed in this shootout.
“Few persons are still in detention in connection with Lawaypora Srinagar attack and among which is the son of Muhammad Ayoub Pathan as well, but: “we vouch for the innocence of both father aand son,” the family members said. KNT
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