New Delhi: Except for a few areas, the situation in Jammu and Kashmir is returning to normal, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla informed members of a parliamentary panel Friday, but refused to divulge details about when the political leaders of the erstwhile state will be released.
The standing committee on home affairs, headed by Congress leader and the opposition’s Deputy Leader in the Rajya Sabha Anand Sharma, was briefed by Bhalla and other senior officials of the home ministry on the situation in the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
Following the revocation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir on 5 August, there was a security clampdown in the region with the government shutting down mobile and internet services.
Sources in the government told ThePrint that Bhalla informed the standing committee that things are returning to normal in J&K as schools have reopened and mobile connections have been restored in most parts of the Valley, except for a few disturbed areas.
On internet restriction, the committee was told that it would not be restored immediately because of apprehension that it can be used to incite violence.
Sources said that some of the members of the standing committee sought to know which are the disturbed areas, but were not given the information.
Some members also suggested that they should be allowed to visit Kashmir to see the ground situation. Sources said that since it was the first meeting of the committee, no decision was taken in that regard.
“The members were told that their suggestions will be considered. The standing committee is well within its right to visit Kashmir,” an official said.
Govt didn’t say how many detained since 5 August
Several members of the standing committee wanted to know the status of the political leaders, especially National Conference leader and former J&K chief minister Farooq Abdullah, his son Omar Abdullah and PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti, and when they will be released.
“The members were told the process of releasing political leaders has started, but did not give a specific date as to when the government will be releasing Abdullah or other senior leaders,” said another official.
Abdullah was arrested under the Public Safety Act (PSA) on 17 August. “When members sought to know the reason why Abdullah senior was arrested under PSA, they were told by the home ministry officials that the NC leader can take legal recourse,” said the official.
The standing committee also sought to know from the home ministry the total number of people detained in Jammu and Kashmir since 5 August, the charges under which they were detained and when they will be released.
The home ministry officials didn’t respond to these questions, sources added.
Almost all MPs attended the Friday meeting, except for a few. Among those who did not attend were Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and BJP’s Rajya Sabha MP from Jammu and Kashmir Shamsher Singh Manhas.
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Neither the Prime nor the Home minister have dared to walk freely in Kashmir.
Kashmir is under Indian colonial occupation
Indians are in Kashmir against the will of the people
We are under the Jackboot of India
200,000 armed trained military directly oppress us.
We appeal to the international community to come to the aid of people under siege.