Srinagar September 13 (KNB): The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) voiced their apprehensions on X (formerly twitte), claiming that prominent socio-political activist and TV debator Waqar H Bhatti’s arrest was arbitrary and secretive.
They alleged that an FIR was filed against him, and he was apprehended in a manner reminiscent of a hostage situation.
Furthermore, the PDP stated that his family was left in the dark about his whereabouts for three days. They also criticized the mainstream media for its silence on the matter.
PDP posted on X said, “Too much democracy in Naya Kashmir! Deplorable that social activist @WaqarHBhatti14 Bhatti has been detained in an arbitrary way. His family is alleging that an FIR was lodged, picked up in a hostage style just after he issued a video criticising certain nominated official of this administration. Even family members were not intimated about his whereabouts for three days. Mainstream media is so much pulverized into silence that they couldn’t even report the arrest.”
Srinagar Police, on the other hand, emphatically refuted these claims. They stated that Bhatti had four FIRs against him, all related to disturbing communal harmony. The police department argued that the arrest was carried out transparently, with three family members accompanying him during the arrest and subsequent court proceedings.
According to them, formal notification was given to the family within the mandatory 24-hour window.
The conflicting accounts have left the situation in a state of uncertainty, with both sides urging the media to investigate further. This controversy highlights the need for a thorough examination of the events surrounding.
“It is emphatically clarified that the facts are mischievously false. The so called activist has 4 FIRs relating to disturbing communal harmony. 3 family members were accompanying him while he was arrested & also in court. Formal intimation was given to family in mandatory 24 hrs.” Srinagar Police posted on X.
Pertinent to mention here that, a written complaint from Chairperson J&K Waqf Board Dr Darakshan Andrabi was received by Police station Shergari Srinagar on 31-08-2023 for registration of FIR against Waqar H Bhatti, acting on the application Srinagar police register a FIR No. 52/2023 U/S 1753 A, 500,506 IPC at Police station Shergari.(KNB)