Srinagar: Mother of a slain militant has been arrested under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) for helping ultras and recruiting two youth into militant ranks, besides posing with an AK-17 rifle, a police spokesperson said here on Sunday.
Police has issued clarification about the arrest of the woman after facing criticism over her detention on social media, saying that many online posts have been generated and shared which have twisted the facts of the matter in order to cause disturbance of peace and tranquility.
Her son was killed on May 6, 2018 along with Kashmir University assistant professor Muhammad Rafi Butt and three others in Shopian.
The spokesperson said that Naseema Banoo, a resident of Rampora Qaimoh in Kulgam was arrested on June 20 in a criminal case with FIR no 30 of 2018 registered under sections 13B, 17, 18, 18B, 19, 39 of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.
“The arrest was done in compliance of provisions of law and she has been under legally sanctioned custody in women Police Station Anantnag ever since her arrest,” he said.
He said the arrested person is involved in a serious criminal case. “The photograph of the arrested woman in which she is toting an automatic weapon and posing next to her son, who was an active militant at the time speaks it all,” he said.
He said the photo is just the beginning of her criminal involvements. “She is involved in much more serious offences and her role has surfaced in recruiting at least two youth into militant ranks, arranging arms ammunition, communication and logistics for militants,” he said.
He said just because she happens to be a woman or the mother of a killed militant does not make her immune to arrest. “It is the prime duty of the police to arrest criminals to safeguard the people it serves and that is what it has done. Anyone who wishes to challenge the decision is free to approach the court of law for redressal,” he said.
He said many social media posts have been generated and shared which have twisted the facts of the matter in order to cause disturbance of peace and tranquility. “Police has taken cognisance of the matter and anyone trying to instigate others through whatsoever means will be prosecuted against,” he added.
