Police arrests, releases HR activist

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 2:  Police today arrested and later released on bail advocate of Jammu and Kashmir High Court and noted Human Rights activist, Parvez Imroz over an argument with a police officer on car parking issue outside Civil Secretariat.
A police spokesman while giving details of the incident said that when the lawyer was not allowed to park his car in front of Civil Secretariat, he misbehaved with Deputy Superintendent of Traffic Police, Riyaz Ahmad Halwai, and torn his uniform.
When contacted, SHO Sheergali Police Station, said that the police has arrested Imroz and later released him.
“Imroz had an altercation with the DSP traffic, Riyaz Ahmad Halwai, and we have lodged an FIR No. 353/2013 against him, and released him later,” Mohammad Asgar Bhat, SHO Sherghari Police Station said.
A statement issued by the Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association condemned the arrest of the lawyer.
They have said that the Association will file a complaint for physical assault and illegal arrest of Parvaiz Imroze against the police officer.
While giving details of the incident, the Bar said Advocate was going to attend a matter of serious nature of human rights violation which was fixed before the High Court and the assault seems to stop the advocate from reaching the court to attend the matter.
The statement said that the assault and two hour long unlawful detention of Parvaiz Imroze in the Police Station Sherghari amounts to interruption in due discharge of duties of a lawyer and interruption in dispensation of justice. “The Bar Association views the matter very serious as an insult to the lawyers community besides an interference in justice delivery system by the erring police official and the Bar Association as such has decided to take up the matter at all levels besides seeking legal action against the said the official”, the statement added.