Separatist leader among four held for procuring medical seats in Pak: DGP Dilbagh Singh

SRINAGAR — Jammu and Kashmir’s Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbagh Singh on Wednesday said that four people including a separatist leader and a woman were arrested for allegedly procuring medical seats in Pakistan for the students of this side of Kashmir and the money was used for fuelling militancy.

Talking to a select group of reporters in Srinagar, the DGP Singh, as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer, said that four people have been arrested for luring youth on the pretext of getting their admission done across in lieu of the money that was used for funding militancy in J&K.

The arrested people, the J&K police chief said, have been identified as separatist leader Zafar Akbar Bhat of Salvation Movement, Fatima Shah, Mohammed Abdullah Shah, and Shabzar Ahmed Sheikh.

“Brother of Muhammed Abdullah Shah went to Pakistan in ’90s and was working as a facilitator of Hurriyat to secure admission for the youth in colleges and universities across,” DGP said.

Pertinently, the DGP had recently told reporters that 57 youth who had travelled on valid passport and visa to Pakistan-administered Kashmir since 2018 on the pretext of studying there, had picked up arms.

He had stated that of the 57 youth, 17 had crossed the LoC and returned along with arms, who got killed while 13 more who also crossed over to this side were still active. The DGP had also said that 17 more are still across, who are under the constant watch of police.

The DGP had also stated that procedure for getting security travel permit for studying across will further be made strict.