Qureshi remanded to police custody in Srinagar

By Shujaat Bukhari

JAMMU, JAN. 12. One of the founder members of the JKLF and hijacker of the Indian Airlines plane in 1971, Mr. Hashim Qureshi, today landed in his hometown Srinagar after 30 years and was produced before the duty magistrate who remanded him to police custody till January 17.

As Mr. Qureshi arrived in Srinagar from Delhi, he became emotional and kissed the soil at the airport besides offering a thanksgiving prayer. ``I am happy as it was my earnest desire to return to my homeland,'' he told presspersons adding that he would work for peace in the State. ``Even if I die now I do not care, I love this land,'' he broke down. He reiterated that he would work for the re-unification of the State from Gilgit to Lakhanpur. Both the countries have kept us with them by force and we will fight for that,'' he said.

Mr. Qureshi who faced a threat to his life from the radical militant group, the Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen, said he was ready for anything. ``Let them kill me,'' he said adding ``agar woh majron aur captaino ke gulam bankar kisi ka qatal karke khuda bantay hein to roze mahshar ke din unse hisab liya jayega (If they have become slaves to the Majors and Captains (of the Pakistani army) to become Gods by killing a person, they shall have to face the same at the day of judgment).''

He said he was against political killings and if there were restrictions on the freedom of Syed Ali Geelani (Jamat-e- Islami) with whom he had ideological differences, he would fight for him also. ``I am a democrat and do not approve of bloodshed which has turned this land into a jungle,'' he said.

Later, amid tight security, Mr. Qureshi was taken to the residence of the duty magistrate, Mr. Mohammad Ibrahim, who remanded him to police custody till January 17. ``After that he will be sent to judicial custody,'' said Mr. Vikas Pahwa, his lawyer.

As already reported, the case against Mr. Qureshi was transferred from district police, Srinagar, to the counter- intelligence wing of the State CID, which would interrogate Mr. Qureshi on the hijacking and wrongful confinement of passengers. A number of Mr. Qureshi's relatives were waiting for him at the airport and later followed him to the court. Emotional scenes were witnessed at the reunion.

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