Srinagar: A week after releasing Jammu-based leaders, the Jammu & Kashmir administration has now started the process of releasing Kashmiri politicians belonging to mainstream parties, more than two months after they were taken into preventive custody in the wake of the Narendra Modi government’s 5 August decision to scrap Article 370.
The first batch of politicians to have been released Wednesday and Thursday include second- and third-rung leaders. Sources in the administration said senior leaders from the National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party would be released in the coming days on health grounds.
A few leaders likely to be released by Thursday night, according to a source, include former J&K law minister and senior NC leader Ali Sagar, his son Salman Sagar, former education minister Naeem Akhtar of the PDP, and former MLA Ashraf Mir, also from the PDP.
Night-time release to avoid media glare
The source quoted above added that prisoners currently lodged in government buildings that have been declared as sub-jails, or in the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre, will be released during late evening or night hours, to prevent any untoward incident or media hype.
The state police released Noor Mohammad, former PDP MLA from Batamaloo, around 10 pm Wednesday. Officers said Mohammad’s daughter is supposed to get married this month.
Another former PDP legislator, Yawar Mir, and Congress’ Baramulla district president Shoaib Lone, whose movements were restricted, are learnt to have been told that they are free to move around now.
Police officers claimed that the released politicians were made to sign a personal bond that they will not disturb peace and harmony.
“One politician, who had been detained at SKICC, has been released. Restrictions on two others have also been lifted,” a senior officer told ThePrint.
Farooq Khan, adviser to Governor Satya Pal Malik, had said last week that all detained politicians would be released in a phased manner.
The officer ThePrint spoke to also said the police had been directed to release the politicians in a phased manner. He, however, refused to share further details about which leader will be released when.
‘Central govt under pressure’
More than 4,200 politicians and political activists had been detained or arrested in J&K since 5 August, some of whom were sent to prisons outside the state. According to the police, a majority of the individuals arrested or detained have been released since, but they have not come out with the exact official figures in this regard.
G.A. Mir, senior Congress leader, said the central government has been under pressure and that’s why the state administration has decided to release political prisoners.
He also said he was happy to see restrictions lifted on his colleague Shoaib Lone. Mir, however, contradicted the official claim that the detainees were made to sign a personal bond before they release. “No, he (Lone) was not made to sign any bond,” he said.
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A happy augury for the future. May Kashmir see a lot lamps being lit for Diwali.