Court extends custody of Kamran Yousuf

Srinagar: A court here on Tuesday extended the judicial custody of photojournalist Kamran Yousuf by 30 days.

The freelance journalist is accused of pelting stones on the government forces during the last year’s uprising.

The court also extended judicial custody of a businessman Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali and a youth, Javed Ahmad Bhat of Kulgam for 30 days.

While Watali, arrested in mid-August, is accused of acting as a conduit for channelling funds for separatists in the valley, Javed Ahmad Bhat & Kamran Yousuf, arrested by J&K Police and handed over to NIA on September 5, are facing charges of stoking unrest in Kashmir.

Meanwhile, the court also extended till November 14 the judicial custody of seven Kashmiri separatists arrested on various charges, including receiving alleged funds to fuel unrest in Jammu and Kashmir.

During the in-camera proceedings, District Judge Poonam Bamba extended the judicial custody of Aftab Hilali Shah alias Shahid-ul-Islam, Ayaz Akbar Khandey, Farooq Ahmad Dar alias Bitta Karate, Nayeem Khan, Altaf Ahmad Shah, Raja Mehrajuddin Kalwal and Bashir Ahmad Bhat alias Peer Saifullah.

On July 24, the National Investigation Agency had arrested the seven on charges of criminal conspiracy and waging war against India.

Altaf Ahmad Shah is the son-in-law of Hurriyat (G) chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani.

Shahid-ul-Islam is a close aide of Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.

Khandey is the spokesperson for the Geelani-led Hurriyat.

The court will deliver order on the bail plea of Kashmiri separatist leader Nayeem Khan and Watali on Tuesday evening. (With IANS Inputs)