Reinvestigate all cases against Kashmiri youths, Mehbooba

Srinagar, Nov 18 (UNI) Demanding reinvestigation in all cases against the Kashmiri youths arrested on terror charges in different parts of the country, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said this was necessary in view of the clean chit given by the CBI to two youths arrested by Delhi police in 2006.

We welcome the clean chit given by the CBI to two Kashmiri youths Mohammed Arif Qamar and Irshad Ali, arrested by the Special Cell of the Delhi police on alleged terror charges from G T Karnal Road in north Delhi in February 2006,'' party president Mehbooba Mufti said.

She called for review of all the cases against the Kashmiri youths arrested on similar charges from various parts of the country.

She said as has been established by the CBI, most of such youth may be innocent and they could have been targeted by some unscrupulous and greedy police officials for promotions and rewards ''The CBI investigations have clearly pointed out about a nexus between various security agencies and the police in framing the Kashmiri youths on alleged terror charges,'' Ms Mufti said and added that it should be a matter of grave concern for all the conscientious citizens of the state and the country.

''Nobody should be allowed to play with the lives and career of the innocent Kashmiri youths for promotions and rewards or any other considerations,'' she said.

She added that a thorough review of cases against the Kashmiri youths, including students and businessmen, has become imperative, especially in view of the changed dynamics of terror investigations across the country where the cohorts of RSS and Bajrang Dal are emerging as the main suspects.

Ms Mufti said as has been recommended by the CBI, not only disciplinary action should be taken against the police personnel in various states for detaining the Kashmiri youths on flimsy grounds and ruin their reputation and careers, but the victims should also be adequately compensated for such paying a huge price for a crime that they have not committed.

''The CBI enquiry has put a question mark on the veracity of the claims made by the police in various states regarding the involvement of the Kashmiri youths in acts of terror,'' she said.

The PDP president said that as scores of such youths are still languishing in various jails outside the state, all such cases need to be reinvestigated in a time-bound manner to ascertain the facts.

UNI BAS KK PK KP 1605