Srinagar, June 10: Police have filed FIR against London-based Kashmiri journalist, Nayeema Ahmad Mahjoor, for opining her views on social networking site Facebook regarding the killing in Lal Chowk on June 6. Police said Nayeema, working with BBC, was ‘inciting violence on Facebook.’
The decision was made public soon after police claimed to have solved the Lal Chowk killing case by arresting three accused and recovered weapon of offence from them. They termed the killing as an “ordinary crime” pertaining to property dispute.
On June 6, an unidentified person shot a single bullet at Muhammad Afzal Khan, 55, near Pratap Park, Lal Chowk. Khan was a resident of Niharpora, Sopore.
“We have registered a case against a foreign based Kashmiri journalist for spreading disinformation on Facebook. She was spreading disaffection as she had claimed that the shooting at Lal Chowk on June 6 was carried out by the police,” Inspector General Police, Kashmir range, SM Sahai said during a press briefing at district police lines here. Asked to identify the journalist, he said she was the London-based BBC journalist Nayeema Ahmad Majoor.
The police have filed FIR under Section 66 IT in Kothibagh police station.
“She is inciting violence on Facebook,” Sahai told Greater Kashmir later. “It does not matter what platform she used. Geelani does not come out and pelt stones. He incites people for violence for which he is detained and charged,” he said.
While writing her views on Facebook on June 6 at 6:48 pm, Nayeema wrote, “Why did police kill this man in Lalchowk? any reason?”
Talking to KNS over phone from London, Mehjoor rejected police claims. “I didn’t blame police on Facebook, but quoted some media reports as why police will kill the businessman. Police should have looked into what I had written on Facebook and then reacted,” she said.
“As a journalist, I am working for peace,” she claimed.
It was the first time that police had gone after a high profile person for updating Facebook status which authorities feel spread “disaffection,” “incite violence,” or was “anti-establishment”. Earlier, separatist leader Shakeel Bakshi was detained after the police alleged he was spreading “anti-establishment” text on Facebook.
Meanwhile, police claimed to have detained three persons in connection with the Lal Chowk killing of June 6.
“The deceased Muhammad Afzal Khan was dealing with money lending on interest basis. A cheque of Rs 32,70,000 was recovered from his belongings,” Sahai said. “During the investigation, two persons identified as Farooq Ahmad Dar and Parvaiz Ahmad Tantray, both residents of Reban Sopore had a dispute over money transaction for a long time with the deceased”.
He said during investigation the two persons unravelled the conspiracy behind the murder.
“The day the incident occurred Farooq Ahmad Dar called Muhammad Afzal Khan on phone. He brought him to Srinagar for the encashment of this cheque given to him earlier by another accused Parvaiz Ahmad Tantray,” IG said.
“On the other hand Parvaiz Ahmad Tantray along with Shabir Ahmad Parray a resident of Hib Dangerpora Rafiabad and Lateef Ahmad who happens to be a released militant of HM came down to Srinagar in an Alto vehicle bearing registration number JK05A-5721. The car is owned by Parvaiz,” Sahai added.
Sahai claimed that Lateef was carrying a pistol as full fledged criminal conspiracy to kill Afzal was already hatched. “Farooq identified the deceased by walking alongside him. Parvaiz kept his car ready near Abi Guzer crossing. As soon the deceased along with Farooq Ahmad Dar reached near Pratap Park, Lateef and Shabir followed them. Lateef fired upon the deceased from a point blank range and ran away using the same Alto car,” he said.
“Three persons Farooq Ahmad Dar, Parvaiz Ahmad Tantray and Shabir Ahmad Parray have been arrested by police so far. Weapon of offence, a pistol, has also been recovered at their instance,” he added.
Sahai said the Lal Chowk incident cannot be taken as revival of militancy as was projected by certain section of media.
“It is not a militancy related case. It was a criminal conspiracy arising out of a land dispute in which a released militant was involved,” the IGP said.
He said involvement of released militants in criminal activities was worrisome. “It is leading to criminalization in the society which needs to be stopped,” Sahai said.
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