Srinagar, November 10: Kashmir’s chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Tuesday urged authorities in Jammu and Kashmir to review their approach towards booking young people under stringent anti-terror laws, expressing concern over prolonged detentions.
In a statement, the Mirwaiz referred to the case of two young men from Baramulla who spent six years in jail under strict anti-terror legislation before being acquitted by a court, which found the evidence against them unreliable.
He said the case highlighted the serious human cost of prolonged incarceration, particularly when the evidence ultimately fails to establish guilt.
“The years lost by the two young men cannot be returned,” Mirwaiz said, adding that their experience raised broader concerns about the arrests and continued detention of Kashmiri youth.
In a post on X, he called upon the authorities to reconsider their approach and ensure justice for thousands of young people who, he said, continue to remain in prolonged detention.
He stressed the need to review such cases and address concerns surrounding the use of anti-terror laws against youth in the region.
