Jammu: The Legislative Assembly on Tuesday witnessed noisy scenes as members of opposition protested against the detention of Kashmiri businessman Bilal Ahmad Kawa by Delhi Police in Red Fort attack case of 2000.
Independent MLA Er Rasheed asked the government to come clean over the arrest of man from at Aali Kadal area of Srinagar’s Downtown and lamented the silence of the government, asking it they will wake up only if “Bilal is hanged like Afzal Guru”.
National Conference general secretary and MLA Khanyar Ali Muhammad Sagar joined Rashid, saying government should inform the House about the action taken in this regard.
He said “fear” of New Delhi was forcing the state government to remain silent on Bilal arrest.
“If you are not afraid of New Delhi then why you are silent on Bilal’s detention,” said Sagar, reminding the government many Kashmiris were released by the courts after they were proved innocent. He told the legislative House, presently in budget session, that Bilal has no links with militants and should be released.
Bilal, according to his family deals in pelts and owns an accommodation in New Delhi. The family, protesting regularly ever since Bilal’s arrest, said on the day of his arrest, he had gone for medical check-up to New Delhi as he was suffering from high cholesterol and other ailments.
The family also produced his passport and asked how he was issued the document if he was ever involved in ‘anti-national’ activities.
The passport bearing number B2687031 stands registered with Bilal’s name mentioning date of issue as 15 January, 2001.
Bilal’s family said that they are unable to understand how come authorities and security agencies did not get a whiff about him all these 17 years, if he had done anything wrong.
