Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq released from house arrest after 19 months

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who is also Kashmir's chief priest, was among hundreds of political leaders who were arrested or detained when the govt scrapped Article 370 in 2019.

File photo of separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq | @MirwaizKashmirOfficial/Facebook

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir authorities on Thursday lifted restrictions on the movement of moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq who was placed under house arrest in August 2019 following the abrogation of Article 370 provisions.

“The police has informed the Mirwaiz that there were no restrictions on his movement anymore and that he was free to visit Jamia Masjid on Friday,” a close aide of the Hurriyat chairman told PTI.

However, the administration neither confirmed nor denied the claim made by the Mirwaiz’s aide.

The Mirwaiz, who is also the chief priest of Kashmir, was among hundreds of political leaders — both separatist and mainstream — who were taken into custody or placed under house arrest as the Centre revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special status under Article 370 of the Constitution 19 months ago.

While most leaders were released by March last year, some including the Mirwaiz continued to be under detention.