Feroz Ahmed, father of the teenager Arsalan Feroz, who was arrested on 31st December by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has suffered a stroke.
Sister of Arsalan Feroz claimed that her father, Feroz Ahmed, suffered a stroke due to ongoing stress. “Yesterday, at around 4 in the evening, my father suffered a stroke. We immediately rushed him to the hospital, where his condition was stated to be critical,” she said, recounting the incident.
Talking about the deteriorating health of her father due to the stress of his son’s detention, she further said, “The doctors said that he should be kept away from any kind of stress and that if he suffers another stroke, the chances for his survival may be diminished.”
“My brother is languishing in jail and in the meantime if something happens to my father, where would my mother and I go?” she said appealing the authority to release her brother.
She appealed to the higher authorities to release her brother as her father is a heart patient and cannot endure further stress. She said, “We only appeal higher authorities to release my brother, to serve justice to my ailing father and mother.”
It is pertinent to mention here that Arsalan Feroz a 12th grader, resident of Zaldagar area of old Srinagar, was arrested by NIA (National Investigation Agency) on Friday, on charges of being an operative of ‘TRF’ (The Resistance Front). The family however contested the claims of NIA, stating that Arsalan is an innocent youth.
NIA raided his residence at Zaldagar area of old Srinagar and later arrested him claiming that he was involved in radicalizing, motivating, and recruiting youth to join militant outfits. NIA also claimed that they carried a search operation at his residence which led to the recovery of several incriminating documents and digital devices.
NIA in their statement added that further investigation in the case continues. They further claimed that 4 accused have been arrested in the case so far.
On Saturday the family members of Arsalan Feroz held a protest in the Press Enclave area of Srinagar demanding his release.
(Featured image Insha Mushtaq Dar/ Ubaid Mukhtar, The Kashmiriyat)