In Indian occupied Kashmir, the High Court Bar Association (HCBA) has supported the demand of the family members of Mudassir Ahmad Butt of Srinagar and another youth from Kulgam district, killed by the Indian troops in Kupwara district, last month.
According to Kashmir Media Service, an HCBA spokesman in a statement in Srinagar said, “The delay tactics adopted by the authorities is unethical. Bodies of Mudassir Butt and another youth should be returned to their family members forthwith.”
He said that the members expressed their serious concern over the targeting of members of legal fraternity by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials by calling them to NIA headquarters, New Delhi in disregard to their age and non-involvement in any criminal activity. “These tactics are unjustified and unwarranted besides being improper and unlawful,” he added.
The spokesman said that a year before NIA officials raided the residence of advocate Abdul Rahim Wani and his son Mubashir Ahmad despite not finding anything incriminating there, NIA sleuths still seized some laptops and mobile phones and took the same with them.
“It is almost after a year that NIA officials have called Abdul Rahim Wani, who is more than 60 years of age and is unwell to NIA headquarters New Delhi though he could have been easily been questioned in Srinagar, if required. The Bar members decided to request the members of international community to raise their voice against the highhandedness of NIA officials and ask Government of India to stop harassing the members of legal fraternity of Kashmir by using such improper methods,” he added.
