Srinagar, April 30: Since the bullet injury caused irreparable damage to Sajjad Ahmad Khan of Gojwara, pro-active Rafiq never let his family feel the loss. Instead he took onto himself the responsibilities of the family business, making it a success.
But now the things are different. Rafiq, the youngest son of his family, is in jail serving detention under draconian law, Public Safety Act (PSA) and the family’s course of life has all of a sudden turned rough.
“Although he was the youngest brother, but it was him who was active in taking care of the business, which he was jointly handling with his elder brother. Now that he is gone, the things are refusing to be normal again,” says Nadeem, Rafiq’s paternal cousin.
Rafiq, 24, alongwith his brother Sameer Ahmad, was running garments and furnishing store business at Gojwara near his residence in Srinagar. But in February 2011, police arrested him while he was out at the Nowhatta chowk.
He was immediately booked under black law, PSA and taken to Kot Bhalwal Jammu—where he is lodged now.
Rafiq’s detention has left his family, comprising of his aged middle aged parents, two elder brothers and their families, in despair.
“With its youngest son in jail, his family is struggling to live a normal life. His parents are finding it difficult to come to terms with the fact that he may be behind bars for two years,” said Nadeem.
“He has been booked on stone pelting charges, but he was never involved in it. We suspect that his detention may be the results of the personal grudge someone may have against him.”
Rafiq’s elder brother, Sajad, was in 2006 hit by police bullet in the arm. The family tried hard for his treatment, but he did not recover fully. “He (Sajad) was hit in police firing at protesters in Nowhatta in Srinagar. The bone of his arm was completely damaged and the damage later proved irreparable. Since the incident, Rafiq along with brother was also taking care of Sajjad’s family expenses as well,” Nadeem said.
“Today, their business is getting neglected because Sameer does not know the business details.”
The family is in the process of moving court against detention under PSA of Rafiq. “We have not submitted the bail application, but we are in contact with the lawyers,” Nadeem said.
Reportedly, around 1000 Kashmiris are facing detention under this infamous law, PSA in various jails. The international Human Rights watchdog, Amnesty International, revealed that over 300 people have been booked under the lawless law” PSA from June to September, 2010.