The Delhi Police has denied permission to separatist Kashmiri leader Yasin Malik for protesting in Delhi citing security reasons. On the other hand, the Delhi Police has advised Malik to choose some other venue where access control could be managed. Jantar Mantar was too open and a porous area for such sit-ins and his security could be in jeopardy in view of the serious threat perceptions to his life.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), New Delhi district SBS Tyagi said they have advised Malik to choose some other place for his proposed fast where police can control the access and also keep an eye on those coming for the two-day fast. Curtailing access to Jantar Mantar will hamper the traffic flow in the New Delhi district. In the event of police clamping down in this area will also affect those coming for work in this area. The security situation was assessed in the event of Malik sitting on fast at Jantar Mantar from Friday and it was found highly untenable, the DCP added.
There were apprehensions by the central agencies that right wing groups may attack Malik during his 48 hours long fast at historic Jantar Mantar to protest the hanging of Parliament attack accused Afzal Guru. Malik has been kept under the constant surveillance of Delhi Police and he may be taken into preventive custody if he tries to defy the police orders. Malik has announced his two day fast to demand the handing over of Afzal Guru’s body to his family.
Security agencies have also advised Delhi Police that it could lead to serious law and order problem that too when the Parliament was in session and Sikhs were protesting against Sajjan Kumar’s acquittal in 1984-anti-Sikhs riots. The report also said Malik had been involved in “anti-national” activities in the past and could exploit the situation to foment trouble in the national Capital and in the Kashmir valley. His fast was fraught with serious ramifications as far as internal security in the city was concerned, well placed sources told The Pioneer on Thursday.
Reports by the central security agencies have labeled Malik as an “anti-national element” who is the blue eyed boy of notorious Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan. He has been involved in several terrorist activities in the past too and has been held under Public Safety Act of Jammu and Kashmir.