Jailed cleric may contest poll from Central Kashmir

Days after his nomination was rejected by the election authorities in South Kashmir, jailed cleric and pro-separatist Sarjan Ahmad Wagay, alias Sarjan Barkati, is likely to contest from Ganderbal in Central Kashmir, according to his family members.

The election authorities last week rejected the nomination of Barkati, who had filed papers to contest the elections from Kashmir’s Zainapora seat. Officials said Sarjan had failed to produce “oath certificate” and other documents in the specified time.

Barkati’s family members on Tuesday said Barkati would not contest from the Ganderbal seat. “The family has taken this decision. Barkati has also taking this decision. He will file his nomination from the Ganderbal seat,” Barkati’s nephew Rehbar Ahmad told The Tribune.

If Barkati files his nomination and it is accepted from Ganderbal, he would take on former Chief Minister and NC Vice-President Omar Abdullah, who is contesting from the Ganderbal seat.

Barkati shot to prominence during the extensive protest that erupted after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in 2016 and remained a central figure in the massive protests.

Last year, the State Investigation Agency (SIA) had arrested Barkati for his alleged involvement in “orchestrating an extensive fund-raising campaign through crowd funding”. The agency had later said these funds were misused for money laundering and promoting radicalism.