Nomination Papers of Sarjan Ahmad Wagay Rejected Today ,he has filed nomination papers from the Zainpora Assembly constituency in Shopian district for the upcoming assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir three day before.
Sarjan, popularly known as Sarjan Barkati, was the most prominent face during the protest rallies in South Kashmir districts of Shopian and Kulgam after the killing of Burhan Wani in 2016.
Killed in an encounter on July 8, 2016, Wani was the top district commander of Hizbul Mujahideen and became a poster boy of the militancy in Kashmir. His killing led to widespread protests in the valley, causing unrest in 2016, leading to the death of 90 people.
Barkati, was arrested on October, 2016 and was released in October 2020. He was arrested again in August 2023, in connection with a terror-funding case. Later, his wife was arrested too.
Barkati’s daughter, Sugra Barkati filed nomination papers on behalf of her father on Monday. She will campaign for her father, unless the nomination is rejected. Zainapora votes in first phase of polling on September 18.
The State Investigation Agency (SIA) that arrested Barkati in August 2023, said the case was about his involvement in orchestrating an extensive fund-raising campaign through crowd-funding, resulting in the generation of funds amounting to crores. “These funds were subsequently misused, involving money laundering and acquisition of undisclosed assets for propagation of radicalism within the Kashmir Valley,” the agency said, according to a report in Indian Express.
(with PTI inputs)
