Salahuddin’s family concerned over Shakeel’s arrest in IOK

Srinagar, August 31, 2018 (PPI-OT): In occupied Kashmir, the family members of prominent freedom activist, Syed Salahuddin, have expressed concern over repeated raids by Indian National Investigation Agency (NIA) on their home and arrest of his son, Syed Shakeel Ahmad, from his Rambagh residence in Srinagar, the other night.

The family members in a statement issued in Srinagar through Shakeel’s brother, Syed Abdul Wahid, said that when they approached the authorities concerned about the whereabouts of Syed Shakeel, the details were not provided to them.

The statement said, “Syed Shakeel has been working in Soura Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar as lab technologist for the past 30 years. His record of peaceful behaviour and attitude could be verified from the authorities concerned. He has been totally law-abiding peaceful citizen, against whom no adverse report or record can be found by police or CID.”

The family members said the allegations by the NIA against Syed Shakeel are totally baseless and his arrest is part of pressure tactics against Syed Salahuddin, who is away from his family for last more than 30 years. “We want to state that the family has grown under the shadow of fear and harassment since then. Our father left the family at a time when all his children were innocent kids,” they added.

It is to be mentioned that the former puppet Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, in a TV interview and statement had stated that she did not allow NIA to arrest Syed Shakeel as there was no evidence against him. She further said that all sons of Syed Salahuddin were living a normal apolitical life like common masses. She also said that there was nothing against other son of Syed Salahuddin, Shahid Yousuf, who was arrested in October last year and has been detained at Tihar Jail in New Delhi.

Meanwhile, the Non-Gazetted Employees Welfare Association of Soura Institute of Medical Sciences in a statement in Srinagar condemned Shakeel’s arrest and said he has a neat and clean record and is very dedicated and honest government servant.” The association demanded his immediate release.

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