Babar Qadri killing: Families of accused stage protest, demand release of their kin

Allege their children implicated in ‘fabricated’ case, tortured ‘brutally’ by police
Srinagar : Family members of three old city youth, arrested in connection with the killing of Advocate Babar Qadri, Friday staged a ‘joint protest’ here to press for the release of their kin, alleging that their children have been ‘implicated’ in ‘fabricated’ cases.
The protesting family members were holding placards which read “release innocent, justice delayed is justice denied” amid pro-justice sloganeering assembled at Press Enclave here this afternoon and staged a joint protest against what they termed ‘unjustified’ arrest of their kin.
They said the trio was arrested by the police without ‘justifying’ their involvement in Babar Qadri killing case ‘directly or indirectly’. Protesters also asked police to provide proofs vis-à-vis involvement of their kin in the instant case.
The disconcerted families alleged that the police have implicated them in a false and fabricated case while real culprits roam free. They also alleged that they have been grievously injured by the police during ‘interrogation’.
It may be in place to mention here that, police arrested three youth in connection with the killing of Advocate Babar Qadri. Trio has been identified as Asif Ahmad Bhat of Rehmania Colony, Shahid Mir of Khanyar and Zahid Khan of Nowhatta.
A lawyer by profession, Qadri was shot dead on September 24 this year at his residence at Hawal area of the old city by two gunmen.
Police registered a formal case under FIR number 62/2020 under section 302, 7/27 Arms Act and 16/18 UAPA was registered at police station Lal Bazar while Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by SP Hazratbal was constituted to probe the killing.
Besides three youth from the old city, police also arrested two inmates from Srinagar Central Jail for hatching conspiracy. Duo has been identified as Muneer War alias Qari of Hatmulla Kupwara and Tawseef Shah of Parimpora, Srinagar.
“My brother was asked to report at police station Nowhatta on 28th of September, four days after Babar Sahab was killed, we did not oppose; instead volunteer him to the police station. He was then taken to Lal Bazar police station and later shifted to SP office for inquiry,” sister of one of the accused, Zahid told reporters.
She also said that Zahid was ‘limping’ when he was presented before the court as his leg was fractured and beard extirpated during interrogation.
She said that her brother runs a shop adjacent to police station Khanyar and was very much present in his shop when Qadri was killed. She said the police can check CCTV footage to ascertain whether her brother was present in his shop or not.
Despite repeated attempts, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Srinagar, Dr Haseeb Mughal could not be contacted for an official version.
“My brother was at his shop when the incident took place; we were not allowed to meet him or Asif who have been falsely implicated in the Babar Qadri killing case. Zahid was limping when he was brought to court. They have been brutally interrogated, his leg was fractured and beard extirpated,” she added.
She appealed to the administration to release her innocent brother and another accused Asif Ahmad Bhat who she said had been falsely implicated by the police in the Babar Qadri killing case.
Bashir Ahmad Mir from, uncle of another accused, Shahid Ahmad Mir of Koolipora Khanyar said that his nephew was arrested by the police when he went out to market to buy some stuff for his home. Mir said that his nephew has a clean police record and is not involved in any subversive activity like stone pelting.
“My beard has turned grey, I am an elderly man, how I can tell a lie. My nephew Shahid is innocent and we have assembled here to seek his release. He has a clean police record and has never been indulged in any subversive activity including stone pelting,” Mir told reporters