Meer Irfan
Renowned cleric from southern Kashmir’s Shopian district Sarjan Barkati was released, late Tuesday evening, his family confirmed.
As per reports, Barkati was kept in detention at Zainapora police station, Shopian, for the last 14 days.
Earlier this morning, The Kashmiriyat had reported that Barkati had fallen ill at the police station last night. His family members had told The Kashmiriyat that Barkati had complained of chest pain, which the family thought was heart attack.
A police official confirmed the development and said that he was rushed to the hospital and was better now.
“The doctors conducted various tests on him and he is doing absolutely fine now,” the Police official had told The Kashmiriyat.
The cleric popularly known as ‘Azadi Chacha’ was arrested on 17 September 2022 when several preachers from south Kashmir including Maulana Abdul Rashid Dawoodi and Maulana Mushtaq Ahmed Veeri were arrested. The two latter were booked under the Public Safety Act and shifted to Jammu’s Kot Balwal Jail.
Barkati has been arrested twice in the last two years. Earlier he was booked under the Public Safety Act in 2016, only to be released after four years.