Srinagar: A local court on Tuesday afternoon granted bail to senior journalist Ghulam Jeelani Qadri who was arrested by police from his Srinagar residence in a 27-year-old case registered under Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act in 1992.

The court of Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) fixed the next of date of hearing on July 31.

Jammu and Kashmir Press Association (JKPA) condemned the arrest of Qadari and had demanded his immediate release.

A number of other journalists were also wanted in the case, official sources said.

They said a police party raided the house of Qadri (62), Printer and Publisher of one of the oldest Urdu newspaper “Daily Aafaq” published from Srinagar. Qadri was arrested in connection with a case registered against him and some other journalists in 1992. Qadri was arrested in connection with a case registered against him and some other journalists under TADA 1992 when he was running now defunct local Urdu news agency JAK (Jammu and Kashmir) News.

Sources said the TADA court had issued a warrant in 1990 when it was in force in the country, including in Jammu and Kashmir. The Act later lapsed in 1995.

However, Qadri applied for bail in the court of CJM, Srinagar, Gowhar Majid Dalal. The Court ordered his release after hearing argument from both sides.

Deploring the nocturnal arrest of senior journalist Ghulam Geelani Qadri from his house in Srinagar, the JKPA said such an action tantamount of deliberate attempt to muzzle the press.

In a statement here on Tuesday afternoon a spokesman of the JKPA said that it is astonishing that Mr Qadri was arrested during the intervening night of June 24/25 for some inexplicable reasons.

He said the nocturnal raid on his premises and subsequent arrest holds no ground as he was available in his office in Srinagar during day time.

“ Such an action tanatamounts of deliberate attempt to muzzle the Press which is against the freedom of expression guaranteed in the Constitution of India”, he said.

The JKPA condemns the arrest of an Editor of high repute, having unblemished record of journalistic performance and as such demands his immediate release.