Athar Maqbool, a 22-year-old youth from Sopore who is pursuing M.A from the Kashmir university allegedly tried to commit suicide to save himself from being persecuted by the Government Forces in this North Kashmir area, however, the Police has said that Athar is wanted in a Militancy related case.
Athar’s family has raised serious allegations saying that Athar is being harassed by the SOG of Police constantly for no reason whatsoever and the officials are accusing him of having Militancy links.
Speaking to The Kashmiriyat over the phone, a family member of Athar said, “On Friday, Athar had been summoned to a SOG camp in Wadoora area of Baramulla district, not for the first time. He is being constantly asked to present himself in the camps for the past several weeks.” On Friday, when one of the family members boarded a vehicle along with Athar, Athar fell down unconscious.
“We rushed him to the hospital, that was where we were told that Athar had consumed poison, and from there (Sub District Hospital Sopore) he was shifted to Government Degree College in Baramulla, where he was treated for nearly 18 hours,” the family member said, adding that, “Police must stop harassing Athar and stop being a threat to his career and life.”
The family member said that Athar stays in a rented accommodation in Srinagar as he is a student of Kashmir University and dozens of students do meet in the university premises. “In Educational institutes, people do not verify the backgrounds of each other, they just meet,” the family member said. The Police is accusing him of having harbored Militants in the university, the family alleged.
Meanwhile, the Senior Superintendent of Jammu Kashmir Police for Sopore Police District, Javed Iqbal upon being contacted said that Athar is accused of Militancy. “we had just called him for questioning under proper Standard Operating Procedures under the ambit of the law.”
He said that Athar is wanted in a Militancy related case and the Police had called him merely for investigation. “We cannot stop Policing, we have to work under proper law,” the SSP added.