Srinagar, February 07, 2019 (PPI-OT): In occupied Kashmir, Indian police have filed a charge-sheet against illegally detained journalist, Asif Sultan, along with nine others in a false case. They have been charged of “hatching criminal conspiracy for an attack on a police party” at Diyarwani in Batamaloo area of Srinagar, last year. A police constable was killed in an attack during a cordon and search operation by Indian forces in August 2018.
A police spokesman said that the police submitted the charge sheet in the case. “The FIR pertains to the incident dated 12-08-2018 wherein militants hiding in a residence at Diyarwani, Batamaloo, Srinagar fled away from spot after indiscriminately firing at Police party wherein one policeman was killed,” reads a police statement.
The spokesman said the charge-sheet has been filed before the competent Court by Srinagar Police. Among the other nine accused also include a woman, Shazia Yaqoob. Asif, a journalist, worked for a local news magazine, Kashmir Narrator, before his arrest by police. His arrest was widely condemned by media organisations.
Recently, New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) appealed to Governor of occupied Kashmir Satya Pal Malik to release Asif and to drop the criminal charges against him. “His editor and family credibly disputed police claims and said his work was strictly that of a journalist, gathering news,” the CPJ had said.
For more information, contact:
Kashmir Media Service
Phone: +92-51-4435548, +92-51-4435549
Fax: +92-51-4861736
Email: info@kmsnews.org
Website: www.kmsnews.org