Who is Sarjan Barkati? Jailed Cleric Who Orchestrated Protests Over Burhan Wani Killing To Challenge Omar Abdullah In Kashmir Polls

Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Elections 2024: Sarjan Ahmad Wagay, a hardline cleric who's currently in detention center for his alleged role in instigating violent protests at some stage in the 2016 unrest in Kashmir valley following the killing of self-proclaimed Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, will contest the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls against former chief minister Omar Abdullah from the Ganderbal constituency.

Wagay, popularly in most cases also is termed Sarjan Barkati, on Thursday filed his nomination papers from the Ganderbal and Beerwah constituencies, days after his candidature changed into rejected from the Zainpora Assembly constituency in Shopian as his papers did no longer include the certificate of oath that changed into to be duly signed by the detention center authorities.

Barkati’s nomination papers were filed by his representatives on Thursday after acquiring the necessary legal permissions, officials said.

Barkati to contest against Omar Abdullah

The separatist cleric is now poised to contest the upcoming Assembly elections against National Conference (NC) vice-president Omar Abdullah in Ganderbal, and incidentally also from Beerwah, which changed into in the past represented by Omar at some stage in the last Assembly of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Thursday changed into the last date for filing nominations for the 2nd phase of polling. The scrutiny of the papers is scheduled to take place on Friday.

The Ninety-member Jammu and Kashmir Assembly is scheduled to move to polls in three phases on September 18, September 25 and October 1, and the counting of votes can be taken up on October eight.

Who's Sarjan Barkati?

Sarjan Barkati is a hardline cleric from south Kashmir who  is currently lodged in detention center for his alleged role in orchestrating violent protests in Shopian and Kulgam districts at some stage in the 2016 Kashmir unrest triggered by the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen poster-boy Burhan Wani.

He changed into first arrested in in 2016 and booked less than the Public Safety Act (PSA). Barkati changed into arrested again last year is facing charges less than the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

In keeping with the chargesheet filed against him in a court earlier this year, Barkati — an active ideologue, promoter and supporter of the terrorist-secessionist nexus — hatched a criminal conspiracy with others, including his relations, to facilitate, aid, incite, advise, advocate and promote terrorist and secessionist ideologies and activities through his inflammatory speeches.

“Through such audio-video inflammatory speeches, he has incited, instigated and provoked formative years to sign on for the terrorist ranks,” the chargesheet reads.

(With PTI inputs)