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Family files contempt charges against govt

KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 6/14/2014 1:57:06 PM

SRINAGAR, Jun 13: The family members Wasim Bashir Sofi, booked under PSA, through their counsel have filed contempt charges against state home department for defying the court directions to shift Wasim from district Jail Kathua to Juveniles’ Home Srinagar after verifying the exact age.
Pertinently, Wasim Bashir Sofi resident of Dangarpora Pulwama was arrested by police in April on charges of stone pelting in the district. The authorities had booked him under Public Safety Act and he was shifted to District Jail Kathua. Soon after his arrest, his family claimed that Wasim is a minor while the police contested the family claims and said that the age of Wasim will be verified. The records of government boy’s middle school Washbugh, Pulwama shows the date of birth of Wasim Bashir Sofi as 2/9/1998.
Advocate Shafqat Hussain told CNS that Justice Virender Singh while disposing of the case had directed the State Home Department on May 20 this year to shift the accused from Kathua to Juvenile jail Srinagar which it did not. “We have filed a contempt charge against the State Home Department in Jammu and Kashmir High Court. We will pursue the matter till Wasim is not shifted from District Jail Kathua to Juvenile Home Srinagar,” Advocate Shafqat said.
Meanwhile, the mother of Wasim, Shakeela Bano alleged that an unknown person is continuously approaching her demanding Rs 30,000 in exchange of her son’s release from Kathua Jail. “We are highly thankful to SHO Pulwama for guiding us but a person, who claims to be a police official, is approaching us and is demanding Rs 30,000 from us to get Wasim released from the jail. I can’t afford that sum otherwise I would have paid him,” she told CNS adding that her son was arrested for misbehaving with a particular police officer.