Families of 3 Accused Stage Protest, Claim They’re Innocent

Firdous Qadri

Srinagar, Dec 18 (GNS): Families of three persons accused in the killing Advocate Babar Qadri on Friday staged a protest at Press Enclave here, terming their arrests ‘arbitrary’. They also demanded a ‘proper enquiry’ into the whole incident by independent investigating agencies.

Reports reaching GNS said that the family members of accused Asif Ahmad Bhat hailing from Rehmania Colony Srinagar, Zahid Farooq Khan of Nowhatta and another appeared with placards and banners at Press Enclave this morning.

While talking to media persons, sister of Zahid Farooq said that they have come here (Press Colony) after reports came through different media platforms that five persons of which some are lodged in Central jail have been accused in the murder case. “On September 28 we were asked by Police to send Zahid (my brother) to Police station Nowhatta, to which we abided and sent him to the station. However when he approached Nowhatta, Zahid was intercepted by police station Lal Bazaar and thereafter taken to SP office. Once we tried to approach the office we were not let to meet him for ‘investigations purpose.’ “
Upto that moment, she added: “we had no knowledge why he (Zahid) was taken into custody. The day when Babar Sahaab (Babar Qadri) was killed, Zahid was at his shop at Khanyar which can be checked from the CCTV footage installed at the location.”

Alleging that the duo has been ‘severely interrogated’ for almost 45 days, the family members demanded a thorough investigation by an “independent agency to bring forth the reality.”
Meanwhile brother of second accused Asif Ahmad Bhat while talking to GNS over phone said that they have not seen their loved ones since September 28 upto November 10. He alleged that
Asif and Zahid have been “severely tortured’.

Family of Shahid Ahmad Mir, a resident of Khaniyar, also staged protest, alleging that Shahid was picked on September 27. “He is innocent. He is being implicated in the Babar case. His mother died last year,” they said and demanded his release.

Qadri was shot dead on September 24 at his residence in Hawal area of Srinagar by two masked men who entered into his residence as clients with files in their hands. They told Qadri that they had to discuss some accident related case but fired at this head with pistols. (GNS)