Mufti’s 2nd headache in 2 days: J&K cops pick up Minister kin

In ‘‘anguish and shock’’ over the killing of five civilians in Bandipora, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed nursed an...

In ‘‘anguish and shock’’ over the killing of five civilians in Bandipora, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed nursed another headache today when Jammu and Kashmir policemen whisked away the nephew of his minister Qazi Mohammad Afzal and word spread that the youth had been abducted by militants.

The minister’s nephew 21-year-old Altaf Ahmed Qazi, who was picked up from Ganderbal, was finally traced to the Kreeri police station in Baramulla. IGP K Rajendra said the Kreeri SHO had been suspended and a probe ordered: ‘‘Altaf was wanted by police in a criminal case but we do not approve the manner in which he was picked up.’’

The IGP said the Kreeri policemen had not informed the Ganderbal police about Altaf’s detention and this led to panic, fuelling rumours.

Story continues below this ad

It’s learnt that five policemen in a jeep landed in Laar shortly after noon and asked Altaf the whereabouts of his brother Firdous, a police constable, and cousin Farooq, son of the minister. Since they were not there, Altaf was told to step out for a chat. The moment he did that, they bundled him into the jeep and sped away.

Minister Afzal, who was in Jammu, learnt of the incident around 3.30 pm. He immediately called Sayeed, expressing his inability to attend a Cabinet meeting. Demanding an inquiry, he said he suspected the police since his nephew’s ‘abductors’ were armed with SLRs (weapons used by the police). Thereafter, the state machinery got working and the youth was traced.

H-1B $100,000 entry fee explained: Who pays, who’s exempt, and what’s still unclear?

Explained1 hr ago

The White House's decision to impose a $100,000 entry fee on H-1B visa holders has sparked worry among Indian tech workers and students. While uncertainties remain about its implementation and exemptions, major tech companies have cautioned employees against traveling. The policy could lead to a shift towards other visa categories and potentially change the STEM immigration pipeline.

View all shorts

Live Blog