Babar Quadri, father of two, was a well-known defender in Kashmir | Image Credit: Twitter
Babar Qadri was a 40-year-old lawyer who was a regular at televised debates and round tables. He also regularly wrote columns in Kashmiri newspapers.
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- Last update: September 25, 2020 7:04 PM IST
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On Friday night, news of the shooting of Kashmir defender and TV personality Babar Qadri went viral on social media. Qadri, 40, was shot with a single bullet as he left his home in the Hawal area of central Srinagar, Kashmir. The incident has caused unrest in Kashmir, especially since it came three days after Qadri tweeted to the Jammu and Kashmir police, telling them about a threat to his life.
READ: Days after tweeting to police for help, activist shot dead at home by militants in Srinagar
Who was Babar Qadri?
Babar Qadri is a 40-year-old activist lawyer who was a regular on television debates and panel discussions. Hw also regularly wrote columns for Kashmiri newspapers. Qadri, a prominent and well-known lawyer in Srinagar, was known to take cases for juvenile justice, such as cases where the state had reserved minors. Qadri had practiced law for the past decade. Active in student politics, Qadri began practicing law in 2008. He is survived by two young daughters.
Why did Qadri send an SOS to the police?
Qadri was a regular on national and international television news channels when it came to speaking about Kashmir related matters. While he spoke out and worked against the Indian government’s use of acts such as PSA to detain minors, among other issues, he also spoke out on other issues facing the Kashmiri population. Because of his opinions and his proximity to national media channels, some projected Qadri as a threat. On September 21, Qadri tweeted to the police saying: “I urge the state police administration to register FIR against this Shah Nazir who has spread the wrong campaign that I work for agencies. This false statement may lead to a threat to me. lifetime”. He also shared screenshots of the person named Nazir giving him open threats in the comments.
I urge the State Police administration to register FIR against this Shah Nazir who has spread a wrong campaign in which I work for agencies. This false statement may result in a threat to my life.@ZPHQJammu pic.twitter.com/utkurYpRzk
– Truth by Babar Qadri (@BabarTruth) September 21, 2020
Was Qadri in danger?
Qadri often identified himself as “pro-Kashmir and not anti-India.” He was quick to question separatist leaders and politics within Kashmir and identified Kashmir as a trilateral issue. Recently, Qadri had created the All JK People’s Justice Party and appointed himself its president. His membership in the Kashmir High Court Bar Association (KHCBA) was subsequently suspended. This month, the Bar Association also refused to revoke the suspension. Following the ruling, Qadri said: “When I formed a Kashmir law club, they accused me of dancing to the tunes of Indian agencies. Now when I work for the unit and want to (re) join, the passage is blocked.” . On Wednesday, days before his shooting, Qadri also said on Facebook that “The bar needs a moderate but smart lead group. We need good speakers, good people who debate and can speak on our behalf. We need a person who can stand up to a judge. or a civil servant of the administration. Yes, we take advantage of the emotional blackmail, coercion and threats to life that was a norm we were used to. Now the change is on a plate, go and take it. The traditional DOPE LALLAN now be buried alongside Covid-19. ”His words didn’t seem to go over well with most and many called him a government puppet. In 2018, after the assassination of Rising Kashmir editor Shujaat Bukhari, he had indicted various separatist organizations in Kashmir such United Jihad Council and Joint Resistance Leadership to be involved in the attack and also blamed them if something happened to it.
What was the police response?
After the SKIMS Hospital confirmed Qadri’s death, the police increased security at J&K, especially in the Hawal area, where large crowds gathered for Qadri’s funeral. Police reportedly said that despite Qadri’s tweet, the defender had not submitted a formal FIR. Security has increased in Srinagar since the lawyer’s death. All Kashmiri political parties, as well as the BJP, have expressed shock over the shooting. Since then, a persecution of the attackers has begun.
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