J&K social activist Sajad Ahmad Sofi released on bail

Social activist Sajad Ahmad Sofi has been released on bail after being imprisoned for allegedly passing comments during a public hearing of developmental grievances. Even though local court had granted bail, police refused to release him last day.

Srinagar: Days after being imprisoned by Jammu and Kashmir Police for allegedly passing comments against a bureaucrat during a hearing of public grievances, social activist Sajad Ahmad Sofi has been released on bail, officials said. Police had arrested Sofi (50) on June 10 from Ganderbal’s Safapora area, under Section 153-A (promoting enmity) for his remarks made in front of Deputy Commissioner Krittika Jyotsna, an IAS officer. Jyotsna, an officer from Uttar Pradesh, is on deputation in J&K since February 8, 20,21 along with her husband Rahul Pandey, IAS, who works in the Lieutenant Governor's office.

During a publicdarbar presided by L-G Manoj Sinha's advisor Baseer Khan, Sofi had said that he does not expect anything from non-local officers. "I pin hope on you as you are a Kashmiri and can understand our problems. I can grab you by your collar and seek accountability from you. But what expectations can I have from officers who are outsiders? " Sofi had said.

The comments didn't go well with the local administration and he was arrested by police for "promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language etc" and "doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony." Sofi applied for bail which was granted by the local court on June 12. However, police arrested him again under IPC Sections 107 and 105 and stated that there "was reasonable apprehension that he will create a law and order situation."