3 Gujjar Residents Arrested in Bandipora, Families Demand Immediate Release

The families of the three arrested persons alleged that they have been arrested without any charge.

SRINAGAR — Three families of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district on Thursday held a protest demonstration in Srinagar, appealing the authorities to release their incarcerated relatives.

The three arrested persons have been identified as Muhammad Amin Gujjar, Muhammad Suliman Gujjar, and Abdul Bari Gujjar.

The protest was led by the wives of the persons from Gujjar Community in Press Enclave Srinagar. All are residents of Dardpora village of Bandipora.

“Our husbands were called to police chowki in Sumlar around two and a half months ago. Till date, we don’t know about their whereabouts,” the women said.

The women alleged that the trio, after being called to a local police chowki, were then shifted to Bandipora. “Now, we do not know where they have been lodged,” the women said, adding they are completely dependent on their husbands as there is none to earn a livelihood for them.

“Police first informed us that our husbands will be released shortly after questioning but till date, we don’t know where they are,” Sakina, one of the protesting women said.

The women alleged that the police has not revealed to them why their husbands were arrested. They said that the police told them that their husbands have been lodged in Kot Balwal Jail at Jammu. “It is difficult for us to reach Srinagar to lodge the protest, how can we go to Jammu and find them,” the protesting women grieved.

Appealing to the authorities to release their husbands, the women said “they have been detained without committing any crime.”

“If the authorities think that they have committed any crime, they should reveal the details to their families,” a protesting relative of Suliman said.

(With Inputs from Agencies)