In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the High Court has denied bail to a PhD scholar from Kashmir University, arrested earlier this year under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for writing an online article 11 years ago.
Abdul Aala Fazili, who is also a journalist, was arrested on April 17 from his Humhama residence in Srinagar by Delhi-controlled State Investigation Agency (SIA) during a raid for his article “The Shackles of Slavery will Break” published in the monthly magazine “The Kashmir Walla”.
Abdul Aala Fazili had moved the High Court after the Special Court rejected his bail plea. He sought bail for a period of one month to complete and submit his PhD thesis by January 2023.
A bench comprising Justices Rajnesh Oswal and Justice Puneet Gupta observed that the allegations levelled against Fazili do not persuade it to grant bail as of now. However, it directed the jail authorities concerned to provide suitable assistance to him for a period of one month in this regard.
Fazili’s counsel submitted that failure to submit the thesis by 22nd of January, 2023 will lead to forfeiture of his right to submit his PhD thesis.—KMS
