Jailed Kashmiri lawmaker seeks probe into civilian killings

Sheikh Abdul Rashid, who won parliamentary polls last year and was released by a Delhi court on parole to attend parliament, has been in jail since 2019

By Nusrat Sidiq

SRINAGAR, Jammu and Kashmir (AA) – Imprisoned Kashmiri lawmaker Sheikh Abdul Rashid addressed parliament Tuesday while on parole, demanding a probe into recent civilian killings in the disputed Jammu and Kashmir region.

Popularly known as Engineer Rashid, he was released by a court in Delhi to attend his first session of the Indian parliament since being elected last year from North Kashmir’s Baramulla constituency.

"Kashmiri blood is not cheap, and civilian killings which took place recently allegedly at the hands of Indian forces must be thoroughly investigated," Rashid told parliament.

He was referring to two separate incidents last week in Jammu and Kashmir, including the death of a truck driver, identified as Waseem Ahmad Mir, as well as death of another civilian, Makhan Din.

A police probe is going on into both incidents.

Rashid, who was elected while in jail, faces charges of foreign funding to disputed Jammu and Kashmir. He was arrested in 2019 and remains locked up in Tihar Jail in the Indian capital along with other Kashmiris who are facing similar charges.

Before being released on parole, Rashid was on a hunger strike inside the jail.

He also demanded better communication and transport lines for remote border areas in the region.

Separately, an Indian Army captain and a soldier were killed Tuesday in a blast from a suspected improvised explosive device near the Line of Control in Jammu district.

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