Baramulla MP Rashid Engineer Released on Interim Bail, Set to Campaign for J&K Assembly Elections

Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla MP Rashid Engineer was released from Tihar Jail after a special NIA court in Delhi granted him interim bail in the terror funding case. He has been granted interim bail till October 2, allowing him to campaign for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections. He will participate in the campaign for his party in the assembly elections. His party Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) is contesting the assembly elections.

Rashid was in jail since 2019 after being arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in the 2017 terror funding case. He was lodged in Tihar Jail. A senior jail official said, "Rashid was released from jail at 4.15 pm.

Shaikh Abdul Rashid alias Engineer Rashid defeated former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah from the Baramulla seat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections as an independent candidate. Elections for the 90-member Jammu and Kashmir Assembly will be held in three phases between September 18 and October 1. The results will be declared on October 8. Engineer Rashid's party is also in the electoral fray. He will campaign for the party candidates.

The Additional Sessions Judge on Tuesday granted him relief on a personal bond of Rs 2 lakh and a bail of the same amount. He also imposed some conditions on the MP, including not talking to the media about the case. Rashid said after coming out of jail that he would fight for his people. He said that he is coming to unite the people of Kashmir and not to divide them.