Brother languising in Tihar, sisters threaten suicide
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Iqbal was arrested in 2006; Delhi Police fails to prove charges in court
Mir Tariq
Bandipore, April 19: A youth from this north Kashmir district continues to languish in Tihar jail for past two years although no charges have been proved against him. Family members of Muhammad Iqbal Jan of Sonarwani Bandipore who was arrested by Delhi Police on November 13, 2006 on the charges of acting as a conduit for militants accuse Delhi Police of fabricating charges against him (Iqbal) in order to seek reward and promotions.
Delhi Police had claimed that Rs 5 lakhs which he (Iqbal) had to pass on to militants were recovered from him.According to the family members of Iqbal, police till date has failed to prove the charges. “Witness (Sikander) produced by the police in the court didn’t identity Iqbal from whose vehicle police had claimed he (Iqbal) was arrested from,” sister of Iqbal, Salma Jan told Rising Kashmir on Saturday.Salma said that her brother had gone to New Delhi to clear the dues of the Delton industries and Suraksha pipes dealers in New Delhi from whom he used to purchase gas cylinders and pipes. “He was the only dealer of Bharat Gas Agency in the Bandipore township. He is innocent. The cash that was seized from him was the payment he owed to his dealers,” Salma said, adding, “Iqbal had got dealership of Bharat Gas Agency under registration number 2091768-GST dated 12-06-2004 after proper verification from police and other agencies.” Salma said that Iqbal had borrowed Rs nine lakhs from the Wular branch of Jammu and Kashmir Bank to expand his business and the cash which was recovered from him was drawn from his bank account day before he left for New Delhi. “We pleaded before Delhi police to check the bank transaction of our brother but they refused to do so and remained adamant on their claim. They framed charges against my brother to get promotion and rewards.” According to Salma after her brother was arrested they approached the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) to seek Non Involvement Certificate (NIC) for him. “The Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) issued a NIC in Iqbal’s favour after carrying out proper investigations. Delhi Police refused to entertain the NIC and refused to carryout any investigations in Bandipore.” Salma said that Iqbal was the only brother among the five sisters and was the lone bread winner. “From the time he has been arrested we’ve been left to fend for ourselves. The Gas agency he had set up is in shambles,” she said.Salma said that she and her other four sisters have been visiting New Delhi for past two years continuously but till date their visits haven’t served any purpose. “If our brother is not released I along with my sisters would not left with any other option other than to commit suicide.” When contacted the union Minister for Law and Justice Hansraj Bharadwaj said, “Let the family members of the detainee approach my office I will look into the matter.” Meanwhile Joint Commissioner Police New Delhi Alok Kumar Verma expressed ignorance about Iqbal’s arrest. “I have not received any such information till date, now information has reached my office, I will look into the matter. If there is nothing adverse against a detainee, it will be discussed with concerned authorities other than police," he said.