Police arrests “Asian Mail’ staff on anti-national charges

Srinagar: Police on Wednesday arrested the staff of a local daily and booked them for anti national and anti- police activities, after it took a serious cognizance of a report published on Tuesday in the daily allegedly accusing police officials of taking bribe from the vendors in Lal Chowk.
Editor in Chief of the local daily ‘Asian Mail’, Rasheed Raheel told that the staff of his daily including the Managing and Executive editors has been arrested by Raj bagh Police station and have been booked under sections 108 and 505 which amount to anti- national and anti- police activities.
“Yes we published the news regarding the taking of bribe from Street vendors, but we are shocked to see us being booked under anti- national activities.” Raheel told.
He added that he had established contacts with Director General Police and other senior Police officers including IGP Kashmir, but none of them responded positively. “
“We have now taken up the matter with Press Council of India and Kashmir Press Association” added Rahaeel.
Meanwhile DIG CKR. Syed Afadul Mujataba expressed his ignorance over the incident and told that he was not aware of such development. However SHO Rajbagh confirmed to that an FIR vide no. 28/2013, under sections 108 and 505 has been lodged against the staff of the newspaper, but claimed that no arrests were made in this regard.
Meanwhile ANC has termed the arrest as an attempt to weaken the ‘pillars’ of the democracy in state.
“DGP should personal intervene into the matter.” Vice president of ANC, Muzaffer Shah told on Tuesday.