Following the random seizure of two wheelers in capital city Srinagar for the past several weeks in Srinagar, the Additional Special Mobile Magistrate (Traffic) Srinagar on Saturday has directed the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Srinagar “to call the report from all the police stations within the district” regarding detention of bikes.
The special court has directed the SSP to submit the compliance report before the court within a period of ten days.
The police started seizing two wheelers last month amid high alert following civilian killings in Kashmir. Police seized hundreds of two wheelers for the past several weeks. Local residents alleged that the seizure of two wheelers “without any reason” was an addition to their miseries.
Naveed Bukhtiyar, a social activist moved to the special court against the seizure of two-wheelers pleading that “from last one month Jammu and Kashmir Police has been detailing two wheelers illegally in violation of the provision of the Motor Vehicle Act and thereafter releasing the same by exercising the power of Mobile Magistrate/Traffic Judge.”
In the application it was further pleaded that the “illegal” action of the non- applicants has not only caused humiliation, mental agony but also taken away people’s fundamental rights.
The court remarked that the issue requires the indulgence of this court as the allegations are very serious in nature.
The case has been filed through Advocate Malik Aadil against the non-applicants that include Inspector General of Police, Deputy Inspector General, senior superintendent, zonal headquarters Batmaloo Srinagar, Sub division police officer Shaheed Gunj Srinagar, Station Head Officer Batmaloo Srinagar.
The action of the police followed the spurt of civilian killings and coincided with the visit of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to the region and people suspected that two-wheelers were being seized due to the latter’s visit.
However, the Kashmir police chief said “Seizing of some bikes and shutting down the internet of some towers is purely related to militancy violences. It has nothing to do with the visit of the Hon’ble HM [Home Minister].”
