Srinagar: Two youth have been booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for carrying a banner during a Muharram procession that read ‘Oppressed Kashmir’ earlier this month.
27-year old Maqsood Ahmed Rather and 23-year- old Irshad Ahmad from Sharifabad, Budgam were booked under the stringent UAPA for raising the banner during Ashura procession in central Kashmir town of Budgam.
According to locals, three days after the Ashura, the police had come to the area looking for these two young men.
“Police told us that the duo was found raising anti-India slogans during the Ashura procession on 10th Muharram. They informed us that a formal case has been registered against the youth under the UAPA” Shabir Hussian, a local said.
He further said that the youth have not been detained though a case has been registered at the Police Station Budgam.
Taking to his twitter handle, National Conference leader Ruhullah Mehdi expressed his anguish against the police for booking two Shia mourners under UAPA.
“Two guys from Sharifabad held a flag reading “Oppressed Kashmir” in 10th Muharram procession in Budgam. Police respond by booking them under oppressive UAPA to prove that they are not oppressed,” he tweeted.
While castigating the police, he further added, “This model of policing should be adopted by every democracy in the world.
When contacted, SHO Budgam, Mehboob Banday told Kashmir Observer that the youth have been booked under UAPA for their involvement in “anti-national activities”
According to police sources, the duo has been booked under Section 13 of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 1967 which prescribes upto seven years imprisonment for advocating, abetting, advising or inciting the commission of any unlawful activity.
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