Kashmiri journalist and TV panelist Majid Hyderi has been booked under the Public Safety Act and shifted to Kot Bhalwal jail in Jammu.
Speaking to The Kashmiriyat, his mother confirmed that the senior journalist has been booked under the Public Safety Act and shifted to the Kot Bhalwal jail in Jammu.
“We have not been provided any paperwork as of yet. My son (Majid) was granted bail by the court on Saturday and as his guardians went to receive him.” his mother said.
Majid Hyderi was arrested by Police from his residence in Srinagar on the charges of “extortion, and defamation” among others on September 15.
Police in a tweet had said that Majid was arrested under an FIR registered against him vide FIR number 88/2023 under the sections 120-B, 177,386,500 of IPC at Sadder PS.
The arrest led a war of words between the former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and the Jammu Kashmir Police after the former said that Majid was dragged from his home like a “wanted terrorist.”
She said, “Majid Hyderi’s arrest late last night has exposed the nexus between conmen & certain intelligence agencies. He was dragged from his home like a wanted terrorist without following any legalities. His mother & sister pleaded to see a warrant but this too was denied. This is how journalists who expose scams are accused of intimidation & defamation,” a claim that the Jammu Kashmir Police denied.
“All legal procedures of formal arrest as mandated by law were fully followed. Family was clearly informed about the order of Hon’ble court regarding this. It is requested to kindly not fall prey to misinformation campaign by vested interests,” Police tweeted.
On Saturday after being granted bail by the Chief Judicial Magistrate Srinagar, Majid, was re-arrested by Police and booked under the Public Safety Act. “When we reached the Police station to receive him, he was immediately whisked away from the Saddar Police station and taken to an unknown location,” his mother told The Kashmiriyat.
She said that it is through the course of the court that they were informed that Majid has been booked under PSA. “I went to the Police station in the morning and sought Majid’s whereabouts as he had to be presented to the magistrate, however, I was informed that Majid had been shifted to Jammu jail,” she said.
Adding that Majid had several health issues, she said, “It was unexpected that he would be booked under PSA. He has several injuries including one in his spine. It would be really tough for him.”
Pertinently Majid Hyderi is the fifth Kashmiri journalist to be jailed. Four Kashmiri journalists Fahad Shah, Asif Sultan, Sajad Gul and Irfan Mehraj are jailed under various charges including anti-national offences.