The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Saturday informed a court in Pulwama district that journalist Gowhar Geelani, facing charges related to apprehension of threat to peace, has not been arrested and is “absconding”.
The court of the Executive Magistrate (First Class) Shopian on Thursday had directed police to arrest Mr. Geelani after he failed to appear before it on a previous date of hearing. The Magistrate had also directed the police to present Mr. Geelani before the court on February 19.
Summons were issued to Mr. Geelani under Sections 107 and 151 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (apprehension of threat to peace, law and order) on February 3.
“We could not arrest Geelani as he is absconding,” Heerpora Station House Officer (SHO) Lateef Ahmad said.
Meanwhile, posters issued by an unknown group surfaced in Pulwama offering reward for Mr. Geelani’s whereabouts.
The “alleged journalist and essentially a stenographer of terrorism and vehicle of insurgency Gowhar Geelani. Anyone giving information on his whereabouts would be rewarded with ₹50,000. Identity of the informant would be kept discreet,” the poster read.
The poster only mentioned an email address of the group named as “Civil Society Volunteers Group of Kashmir”.
Published - February 20, 2022 12:24 am IST
