Jailed cleric Sarjan Barkati to contest from Zainpora

Srinagar: Incarcerated popular muslim cleric Sarjan Ahmad, known as Sarjan Barkati, will be contesting assembly elections from Zainpora constituency of Shopian in southern Kashmir.

Barkati's daughter filed his nomination papers at Shopian district headquarters and later addressed a gathering during which she appealed to the people to remember her father and vote for him in the upcoming assembly elections. "My father needs you this time and he will get this news in jail that people of his area are with him," his daughter said. He will be contesting the election as an independent candidate and his daughter will lead the election campaign.

Barkati shot to fame during the protests in 2016, following the death of Hizb ul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8, 2016, when his unique slogans galvanized thousands of youngsters on the streets of southern Kashmir.