Bandipora: Hafiz Mohammad Sikander Malik (37), former district president of the banned Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) Kashmir, is out on bail, but his family members and loved ones have been wary of being near him for the past three months.
Hafiz Sikander is the only candidate campaigning for the Jammu and Kashmir elections with a black Global Positioning System tracker strapped to his ankle. Jammu and Kashmir Police monitor him round-the-clock through the GPS tracker.
“Initially, when they fixed the tracker, even my family members were wary of coming near me. Some used to think their conversation would be overheard through the device. But, slowly, they understood that it was to monitor my movement. I think this is a major invasion of my privacy and should not be done,” said Hafiz Sikander, speaking to ThePrint.
Hafiz Sikander, who hails from Bandipora’s Gundpora area, is contesting the elections from the Bandipora assembly constituency as an Independent, backed by the banned JeI Kashmir. He had created a buzz when he went to submit his nomination papers sporting the GPS anklet.
Hafiz Sikander said the tracker was attached roughly three months ago on court directions concerning a case the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is investigating against the JeI.
The Jamaat-e-Islami Kashmir, a religious-political organisation, is not allowed to contest elections as the Centre banned it in February 2019. However, it has indirectly entered this electoral fray after nearly four decades, backing 10 Independents.
Hafiz Sikander, who faces charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, was arrested in 2019 after the abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and was granted bail on 2 December 2023.
‘Several people are languishing in jail’
“This GPS anklet was fitted on me about three months ago. I have been fitted with the GPS anklet, so what can I say? You should know that privacy is not protected when it is on a person. Secondly, despite being out of jail, I do not feel free since I am being continuously monitored,” Hafiz Sikander told ThePrint.
Hafiz Sikander said if the government wanted good citizens in a society, it had to ensure they were made to feel like one. “There has to be some good initiative from the government’s end to make us feel and behave like a good citizen in a society. The government should not attach such GPS trackers on anyone else in the future,” he said.
“If I am out on bail, why should they track my movement this way? Is this what they do with all the people out on bail? Why are people from Jammu and Kashmir singled out? Wherever I go, they track my movement. In my opinion, these things should not happen, and we will explain to the government that this is not a good thing,” he added.
Earlier this year, Jammu and Kashmir police introduced GPS tracking devices for monitoring the “terror” accused who are out on bail. The device has been attached to Hafiz Sikander to keep track of his movements as he goes out for campaigning, among other things.
Speaking to ThePrint, Hafiz Sikander said he decided to participate in the elections as several issues are ailing the region. “See, several issues need immediate attention, whether unemployment, health, or education. There are still several people who are languishing in jail. Many have spent their youth in jails on frivolous charges. We want to raise our voices for them, as well,” he said.
Highlighting his “ordeal”, Hafiz Sikander said, “After 2016, I have suffered a lot. I think this old tradition (of rounding up people and putting them behind bars) is going on in Kashmir, so we are trying to make the government pay attention to these things. These things should not happen in the future. This is the main purpose of contesting the elections.”
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Waqf Amendment Bill in manifesto
Though the Independents backed by the JeI Kashmir have created a buzz on the ground, this is not the first time it has entered electoral politics. It was active in Jammu & Kashmir’s electoral politics till 1987 when it boycotted the elections after allegations of widespread rigging.
Speaking about this election, Hafiz Sikander said if the ban on JeI Kashmir had been lifted, “surely, we would have participated at all the places but as Jamaat is still banned we can’t speak on its policies, etc.”.
Hafiz Sikander has included opposing the Waqf Amendment Bill in his manifesto. “Recently, the government has introduced a Waqf Amendment Bill. It is quite a big challenge for the Muslim community as these properties were being used to uplift the poor sections of society. So, we oppose it (Waqf Amendment Bill). I am highlighting this in my campaign, too,” he added.
On political parties and candidates terming the Independents whom the JeI Kashmir is backing as ‘proxy candidates’, Hafiz Sikander said everyone has a right to participate in the electoral process.
“We have not compromised with anyone nor are we taking part in the elections on anyone’s basis. Engineer Rashid saheb also has his thinking, and his party is also contesting the elections. People will decide who they want to lead them,” he said.
Hafiz Sikander said there has been development in Jammu and Kashmir over the past few years, but “after 370, there is still an atmosphere of fear here”.
“Hence, we can not say that things are all hunky dory after the abrogation of Article 370. People of the state need to feel a sense of security, and they need to stop living in fear all the time,” said Hafiz Sikander, pointing out that he is relying on “well-wishers” and religious leaders to reach out to the public on his behalf and help fund his campaign.
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)
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