Thousands denied travel documents in Kashmir for 'adverse reasons'

Thousands denied travel documents in Kashmir for 'adverse reasons'

Former militants, lawyers, doctors, traders bear the brunt

SANAH BUKHARI

SRINAGAR FEB 04: Despite the repeated assurances of Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, thousands of people, including former militants and their relatives continue to be on the receiving end due to non-issuance of travel documents by the state authorities.

According to reports, around 30,000 people, either militants or their relatives or those even remotely associated with separatist activities have been denied passports by the government. Many human rights activists, lawyers, doctors and people from other walks of life have also been denied travel documents for their direct or indirect association with the separatist movement in Jammu and Kashmir.

Mohammad Maqbool Rather, 62, is a retired employee of power Development Corporation. He wanted to travel to Mecca for the Hajj but has been denied passport because the police did not clear him due to his son's past. Rather is surprised because he had been to Hajj in 2006 with his wife Raja Begum and now police has raised objection.

"After serving two years imprisonment, my son started a small business of his own. I fail to understand the logic of denying me the passport," he told this newspaper. 29-year-old Sheikh Sikandar Jeelani, a resident of Khwaja Bagh, Baramulla applied for passport in October 2006 to see his ailing Aunt in Karachi. During the verification process, CID department rejected his application on the plea that his brother-in-law Ejaz Ahmad was in Pakistan. A year later, his aunt expired.

Sikandar's wife, Gulshan also applied for passport in the same year. Like Sikandar, CID also rejected her application citing her brother's presence in Pakistan.

"CID officials told me that they can't clear my name due to the presence on my brother-in-law in Pakistan. I pleaded before them that Ejaz, is living a happy married life with his family including two children. What's my fault, but they didn't listen" he added.

Pertinently, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah on the floor of the house last year had said that he he has directed the CID officials to facilitate grant of the passports to the kin of militants.

"When separatist leaders like Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq can get passport to visit outside the country, why not the kin of militants," Omar had told the Legislative Council.

The denial of passports is not affecting those who wish to go on religious pilgrimages or to meet their loved ones in other parts of the world. It has also affected the people associated with the handicraft industry.

'I wanted to promote my embroidery business in Gulf. I applied for passport but it was declined by the CID on the grounds that my brother had remained active in militancy for some time. My dreaming of taking handmade products to Gulf markets was shattered," says Sajad Ahmad Najar, an embroidery artist.

"This is a state where even Chief Minister's orders are not followed. What can common men like me expect," he added.

[State Observer]