February 1, 2018New Delhi: The India's National Investigation Agency (NIA ) on Thursday told a Delhi court that a freelance photo-journalist, arrested last year for alleged stone-pelting and other cases in Kashmir Valley opposed the bail application of Kamran Yusuf before Additional Sessions Judge Tarun Sherawat, claiming the allegations levelled against him were “serious”.
The agency alleged that Yusuf was an active participant in stone pelting and raising anti-national (India) slogans and that there were some WhatsApp groups which showed he was having links with the outfits.
The counsel also objected to the defence lawyer calling Jammu and Kashmir a conflict-zone’
“Okay, let us call it a law and order issue,” advocate Warisha Farasat, appearing for the journalist, said.
The victim sought relief saying he was working as a journalist and his presence at various stone pelting sites was merely because he was covering those incidents. “He (Yusuf) is a young boy and trying to establish his career as a photojournalist,” Farasat said.
The court has reserved its order for tomorrow when it will also pass direction on taking cognisance on the charge sheet filed by the NIA against against 12 people including Hurriyet leaders and Hizbul Mujahideen head Syed Salahuddin.
Yusuf, a resident of Pulwama, was arrested in September 2017 along with one Javed Ahmed Bhat, a Kulgam resident, by the NIA in continuation of its probe in libeation activities in the Valley.
According to the agencys claim and allegagtion, both were involved in stone- pelting incidents besides organising groups of youths who would throw stones at Indian forcces personnel during crackdown operations. agencies