ISHFAQ TANTRY
Srinagar, Sept 6: The government has revoked the Public Safety Act (PSA) of a minor boy from old town Srinagar, who was booked for stone pelting and lodged at Kotbalwal jail.
However, his parents are worried as the boy has not reached his home yet.
15-year-old Sheikh Ikram son of Zulfikar Ahmad Sheikh of Bagh Jogi Lankar Rainawari was detained under PSA on June 28, 2010. He was shifted out of Kashmir and lodged at Kotbalwal jail, Jammu.
“High Court had on August 20 directed the State to shift Ikram from Kotbalwal to any jail in Valley. But before being shifted to Srinagar, the authorities have revoked his detention under PSA,” Advocate Mir Shafqat Hussain told Rising Kashmir.
He has been pleading Ikram’s petition in the High Court. He, however, said the minor has not reached his home yet
“Being his lawyer, I visited Kotbalwal jail last week but was told by jail authorities that he has now been shifted to CIK, Jammu. Since he has not been released yet his parents are worried about his safety,” Shafqat said.
Before being detained under PSA, Ikram was first arrested by police on June 22 and shown booked in an FIR 34/2010 under section 148, 149, 341, 336, 307 registered in Police Station Rainawari. He was accused of leading a mob in the area and pelting stones. Though his parents managed his bail in the case, he was subsequently booked another case FIR 23/2010 with almost same charges and booked under PSA.
Later, his parents approached High Court with a habeas corpus writ petition through Advocate Mir Shafqat Hussain in August seeking quashing of his detention order and his shifting to Srinagar. Subsequently, on August 20, the court directed the authorities to shift him from Kotbalwal jail to any jail in Valley.
