Early Times Report
Srinagar, May 25: A court in central Kashmir's Budgam district has granted bail to separatist Masrat Alam Bhat in connection with a case for provocative activities, including hoisting of Pakistani flag last year.
"If the accused is anti-national and detrimental to the society and public at large, let the state discharge its duty in bringing him to book so that he is punished suitably as per the mandate of law.
However, despite the fact that the state alleges accused to be anti-national, the right of the accused as guaranteed by the constitution and principles of natural justice, including audi alteram partem, cannot be denied to him indefinitely," Masarat Roohi, Chief Judicial Magistrate, Budgam, said while granting him bail in an FIR (92/2015) registered in police station, Budgam, against him last year, following the arrival of Hurriyat's Syed Ali Geelani on April 15, 2015.
Police had registered a case against several separatist leaders including Bhat and Hurriyat chairman Geelani for provocative activities including hoisting of Pakistani flag.
The case was registered under RPC sections of 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 121 (waging war against government of India), 147 (rioting), 341 (causing injury), 336 (attacking government employee), 427 (mischief) read with 13 Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
Alam has been asked to furnish two sureties of Rs two lakhs each out of which one shall be a resident of Budgam before the superintendent of sub-jail, Baramulla . The court directed that Alam would not hamper or temper with the prosecution evidence or not leave the state without seeking prior permission of the court.
After remaining in jail for four years in connection with 2010 summer agitation in the Valley, Alam was released on March 7, six days after the PDP-led government came to power. His release had created an uproar across country and the issue had even figured in the parliament proceedings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi making a statement on the floor of the House that Centre was taken into confidence to by the state government. |
