From: Habib Yousafzai <yousafzai49@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Mar 2, 2011 at 2:29 PM
Subject: [bangla-vision] Geelani detained at Delhi Airport
Geelani detained at Delhi Airport
Released After 3-Hour Questioning
ARIF SHAFI WANI
Srinagar, Mar 1: A special team of Delhi Police detained the Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (G) Syed Ali Shah Geelani at the New Delhi Airport on Tuesday when he was on way to board a flight to Srinagar. The veteran leader was released after 'questioning' at Lodhi Road Police Station for three hours. Geelani, however, missed his flight to Srinagar.
The Hurriyat (G) and its allies have taken strong note of the incident terming it as a conspiracy to harass and malign Geelani.
Incidentally, the Delhi Police on February 20 had barred Geelani from leaving New Delhi without recording his statement in the Hawala case. However, Geelani maintains that the Delhi Police did not stick to its commitment of recording his statement at his Malviya Nagar residence.
Geelani told Greater Kashmir from New Delhi that he alongwith his family proceeded towards the Airport in two taxis today morning. "However, when we reached near the Airport terminal, a posse of Delhi Police led by an inspector stopped the taxi in which I and my son Nayem were traveling. The inspector asked us to accompany him saying that we will be released after few minutes. When we resisted, he asked the taxi driver to proceed towards Lodhi Road Police Station where they questioned me for nearly three hours," Geelani said.
Geelani said on February 20, he had received a written order from Delhi Police asking him not to leave New Delhi without recording his statement. The ailing leader claimed that he faxed an application on February 26 to Delhi Police seeking exemption from personal appearance on health grounds and that instead he would send his lawyer.
"However, Delhi Police made a commitment that they will record my statement at 11.30 am on February 28 at my Delhi residence. But the cops sent another notice to me at 9.30 pm yesterday again wishing to record my statement. But till 11.30 am today there was no response from the cops and I left for the Airport," Geelani said.
Elaborating on the questioning by the special cell of Delhi Police, Geelani said he categorically refuted his involvement in the Hawala case and maintained that the ongoing movement in the Valley was being exclusively financed by the common Kashmiris.
"Even one of the officers of Delhi Police who questioned me acknowledged that people of Kashmir respect me and even support my programs. I told them Kashmir is a result of broken promises and India despite being signatory to UN resolution is denying the right to self-determination to Kashmiris. To put an end to right violations and protection of their identity, people of Kashmiri have been supporting the movement from the core of their heart and are ready to sacrifice their lives for it not to talk of donating money for the just cause," he said.
Meanwhile, the spokesman of Hurriyat (G) Ayaz Akbar strongly condemned the detention of Geelani.
"This clearly establishes that Delhi Police is harassing and trying to defame Geelani Sahib according to a conspiracy. He was subjected to uncivilized behavior and the conglomerate condemns it in unequivocal terms. On one hand interlocutors appointed by the Government of India invite Geelani Sahib for talks and on the other Government subjects him to harassment," Akbar said.
Akbar said Geelani's detention also exposes the claims of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah that he is a free man and can return to Kashmir whenever he likes. Pertinently, Kashmir had observed a complete shutdown on February 22 against the curbs on Geelani's movement.
"He (Geelani) has been called in to join investigations related to Hawala case. Our investigating officials questioned him over the matter," P N Aggarwal, Special Commissioner of Police (Special Cell), told a news agency.
--
Palash Biswas
Pl Read:
http://nandigramunited-banga.blogspot.com/
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