Son allegedly held for questioning, man attempts self-immolation in Kashmir

A resident of Kulgam in Jammu and Kashmir attempted self-immolation on Sunday (November 16, 2025), allegedly because the police did not allow him to meet his detained son.

Bilal Ahmad Wani, a dry fruit seller by profession, was rushed to the Government Medical College, Anantnag, after suffering “severe burn injuries”, officials said. The doctors said he was “responding to the treatment”.

Mr. Wani and his two sons live in close vicinity to Adeel Rather, a medical doctor arrested by the J&K Police on November 6 for his alleged links with the alleged “white collar” inter-State terror module. Dr. Adeel Rather’s brother Dr. Muzaffar Rather too is an accused in the case, and security agencies believe, had left India earlier this year to Dubai. The police also recovered a rifle from the locker of Dr. Adeel Rather at the Government Medical College, Anantnag, where he used to work till October 24.

Over 600 locals were detained by the J&K Police in Kashmir after the Red Fort blast on November 10 in New Delhi, which left 13 civilians dead. Mr. Wani’s son was reportedly among them, pushing Mr. Wani to take the extreme step.

The J&K Police has not issued an statement on the attempt by Mr. Wani to end his life.

Former J&K Chief Minister and chief of Peoples Democratic Party Mehbooba Mufti posted a picture of Mr. Wani on social media. “Bilal Wani, an anguished father from Wanpora Qazigund, has set himself on fire after his son Jasir Bilal and brother Naveed Wani were detained by the police a few days ago,” Ms. Mufti said.

She said Mr. Wani pleaded with authorities to see his son, but his pleas were of no avail. “He has been referred to Sri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital, Srinagar, and is in critical condition. This level of high handedness only deepens wounds and breeds despair. When young men are picked up randomly, we risk driving an entire generation into fear, frustration and ultimately towards darker paths. I request the police to at least allow him to meet the detained members,” Ms. Mufti said.

Ms. Mufti’s daughter Iltija Mufti too had a word of caution for the Centre. “The Government of India has a choice to make. You can choose to further stoke the deep-seated distrust and alienation Kashmiris feel by seeing all of us as terrorists or adopt a more humane compassionate approach by pursuing justice that doesn’t invalidate a Kashmiri’s sense of dignity or ruin his life. Collective punishment can’t be the solution,” Ms. Mufti said.

(Assistance for those having suicidal thoughts is available here on helpline 104 and Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050 and also here)