Senior National Conference Leader Hilal Akbar Arrested

Senior National Conference leader Hilal Akbar arrested for anti-national speech.

Police on Tuesday arrested senior National Conference leader Hilal Akbar for instigating the sentiments of a particular community and for offering an anti-national speech.

The police have also obtained a 10-day remand for questioning them. Hilal Lone, son of North Kashmir MP Mohammad Akbar Lone, was released by the police.

Meanwhile, NC Vice President Omar Abdullah and PDP President Mehbooba Mufti strongly condemned Lone’s arrest, saying that the BJP leaders only do hateful things but the action is on others.

Hilal Lone was taken into preventive custody by the police on August 5, 2019, and was arrested under the PSA in early 2020. He was released from PSA in June 2020.

He was again arrested by the police on 25 December 2020. He was lodged in a supplementary prison built at the MLA Hostel in Srinagar. He was released from jail by the police only last evening.

The police have registered a case against Hilal Lone under Hajan police station in Bandipora under the prohibition of unlawful activities, the Anti-Terrorism Act, and various sections relating to inflammatory and anti-national activities.

The case was registered against him during the November-December 2020 election campaign for the District Development Council for allegedly instigating the sentiments of a particular community and making an anti-national speech. He gave these speeches only in Hajin.

After arresting Hilal Lone, the police produced him in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Bandipora and received his 10-day remand.

It is noteworthy that Hilal Lone’s father Maheed Akbar Lone is also often in the news for his controversial and inflammatory rhetoric. He also raised the slogan of Pakistan Zindabad in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly.

He has also reportedly supported terrorists and stonemasons several times. He often accuses the Center of suppressing Kashmiri Muslims in Kashmir.

People’s Democratic Party President and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti strongly condemned the arrest of Hilal Lone, saying the Indian government was shamelessly arresting mainstream Kashmiri leaders for alleged hate speech.

But the truth is that if action is taken against its ministers, legislators, and IT cell to create a sense of fear, fear, and insecurity towards the minorities, there is hardly any place in an Indian jail.

National Conference Vice President and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah strongly condemned Lone’s arrest and said that BJP always follows double standards in the matter of hate speech.

The rhetoric of many BJP leaders is extremely objectionable. He talks about cutting hands. Threatens to kill people. But it all goes on.

Hilal Lone gave a speech and a case was registered against him under the Anti-Terrorism Act and he was arrested.