SRINAGAR A week after Special Police Officer (SPO) fled with seven AK-47 rifles from the residence of PDP MLA from Shopian Aijaz Ahmad Mir, the legislator was stunned as Jammu and Kashmir Police seized his books which include senior JRL leader Syed Ali Geelanis ‘Wular Kinaray’ and one authored by former Hurriyat Conference (M) chairman professor Abdul Gani Bhat.
I can understand the police seizing my mobile phones and my laptop. But I am amazed the police has seized my books and a battery charger, he said.
The books, which police allegedly took away from Mir’s Jawahar Nagar residence, include Ahmad Rashids ‘Taliban: Militant Islam’, ‘Oil and Fundamentalism in Central Asia’, separatist leader ‘Prof Abdul Gani Bhats ‘Beyond Me and Jihad and Kashmir’. The police also seized JRL leader Syed Ali Geelanis ‘Wular Kinaray’ . What has been left behind by the police are autobiography of Adolf Hitler ‘Mein Kampf’ (My Struggle) and legendary Kashmiri leader Shaikh Mohammad Abdullah’s ‘Aatish-e-Chinar’.
I have read Adolf Hitlers Mein Kampf and also Sheikh Abdullahs Aatish-e-Chinar.I have read Aatish Chinar many times and it is among one of my favourite books. But I have also read books of Ahmad Rashid and others. I am surprised how can a book by Ahmad Rashid qualify for a seizure while ‘Mein Kampf’ doesnt, said the MLA.
Mir said that people read books which are available in the market. He says books written by separatist political leaders are in the market and like other people who are into reading, he also bought them to read and understand their (separatists) view of Kashmir.
Since when it has become a crime to possess a book, he asked.
At least seven Personal Security Officers who were posted with Mir are under police detention after SPO Adil Bashir fled with the rifles. Bashir also fled away with one personal pistol of the MLA from the legislators official residence last Friday. Later pictures of Bashi carrying an AK-47 with Hizbul Mujahideen militants appeared on social media. The police have recorded Mirs statement.
Mir alleged that the police also provoked his former PSOs who are under detention to speak against him. The police have constituted a Special Investigation Team to probe the case. Mir said he was not in the Valley when the incident took place.
Even Policemen Can Read my Book
Reacting to seizing of book, Professor Bhat, who is Muslim Conference Chairman, said that anyone can read his biography Beyond Me.
He said there is no harm in reading any book. Bhat said even the policemen of all ranks can read his book.
Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now
Be Part of Quality Journalism |
Quality journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising revenues are falling fast. |
| ACT NOW |
| MONTHLY | Rs 100 |  |
| YEARLY | Rs 1000 | |
| LIFETIME | Rs 10000 | |
