Hilal Lone, son of senior National Conference (NC) leader and MP Akbar Lone, was on Tuesday booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for his alleged ‘provocative’ speech during campaigning in the District Development Council (DDC) elections in November-December last.
Mr. Hilal Lone was sent in 10-day police remand by the court in Bandipora.
“Hilal Lone has been booked under Section 13 of the UAPA, besides Sections 505, 153-A and 188 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC),” Inspector General of Police (IGP) Vijay Kumar told The Hindu.
Mr. Hilal Lone, also an NC leader, had been under preventive detention at the MLA hostel sub-jail in Srinagar for the past two months. He has been shifted to a police station in Bandipora’s Hajin in north Kashmir. His father represents north Kashmir’s Baramulla constituency.
Referring to the ‘Gupkar gang’ jibe of the BJP, Mr. Hilal Lone stated, “The real gang is the one that demolished the Babri Masjid and rioted in Delhi”.
Omar, Mehbooba condemn move
NC vice president Omar Abdullah and Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti have condemned the move.
“BJP has a completely different standard when it comes to hate speech from its own leaders. They can call for hands to be cut off, people to be murdered & it’s fine. Hilal Lone makes a speech & anti-terror laws are used to book him,” Mr. Abdullah tweeted.
Ms. Mufti said the Government of India “continues to shamelessly book Kashmiri mainstream leaders under UAPA for ‘hate speech’.”
“The truth is that there won't be enough room in Indian prisons if their own ministers, lawmakers and noxious IT Cell were brought to book for inciting communal passions against minorities,” she said.
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