Artist, 16 others released after ‘counselling’ by police

SRINAGAR: After uproar from everywhere, police on Sunday released artist Mudasir Gul and sixteen other youths who were taken into custody for demonstrating in favour of Palestinian people who are facing a fierce military attack from Israel.
Police in a statement said that SSP Srinagar Sandeep Chaudhary held a counselling session with the detained youths and an interaction with their family members, in which SP South Srinagar Sajjad Shah, SP North Srinagar Mubashir Bukhari, and other officers of the district were also present.
“During the counselling, family members of the boys were advised to take proper care of their wards and keep a watch upon their activities, actions and behaviour. The youth were properly counselled and advised to focus on their studies/professional work and utilise their energy in a positive direction,” the police said in their statement.
“The family members and the youth duly appreciated this endeavour and acknowledged their role of responsible citizens. The parents assured that they will guide their children towards a positive direction so that they could not get engaged in such activities which can lead to spread of infection,” the statement added.
The police had detained the youths on charges of violating Section 51 of the Disaster Management Act during Corona Curfew.
The youths were arrested from their homes a day after they participated in a pro-Palestinian demonstration, as part of which artist Mudasir Gul painted a Palestinian woman on a street banner.
“Yes, they have been released, and are safe. They have been told not to do it again,” said a family member, wishing anonymity, of one of the released youths.
Artist Mudasir Gul has been drawing art for more than a decade now after he finished a five years’ course in art at Kashmir University. He teaches art at a private coaching, where children of some police officials have been his students too.
Mudasir was taken by police on Friday afternoon to the local police station. A total of 20 individuals had been arrested for participating in pro-Palestine demonstrations in Srinagar, police said.

Junaid Nabi Bazaz