NC chief held, for ‘hate speech’; Omar slams BJP’s ‘double standards’

Two months after he was detained, J&Ok Police has booked and arrested Hilal Akbar Lone, the National Conference (NC) chief and son of Member of Parliament Mohammad Akbar Lone.
Hilal, who was below detention at Srinagar’s MLA hostel, has been booked below anti-terror legal guidelines for “hate speech” that he alleged delivered whereas campaigning for the latest DDC elections within the Valley.
Reacting to the arrest, former J&Ok CM and National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah tweeted, “The BJP has a completely different standard when it comes to hate speech from its own leaders. They can call for hands to be cut off, people to be murdered & it’s fine. Hilal Lone makes a speech & anti-terror laws are used to book him.”

On Tuesday, Hilal was formally arrested below the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for delivering alleged hate speech at a public rally through the DDC elections. Police sources stated an FIR has been lodged at Hajin police station of Bandipore towards Hilal below a number of sections, together with Section 13 of UAPA.
Police have shifted him to Hajin from the MLA hostel.