By Raqib Hameed Naik, TwoCircles.net,
Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Saturday released Hurriyat (G) leader and Muslim League president, Masrat Alam Bhat while complying with orders of the Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed to release all political prisoners who are not facing criminal Charges.
“Yes, all the directions issued by the government (on release of political prisoners from jails in the state) will be complied with. Let us be assured about it,” Director general of police (DGP), J&K, K Rajendra Kumar told reporters here on Saturday.
Chairman of J&K Muslim League, Masarat Alam Bhat, detained by policemen (Courtesy: kashmirvoice.org)
Masrat was languishing in jail since October 18, 2010. Pertinently, Masrat led the 2010 uprising by issuing protest calendars. Masrat was slapped with Public Safety Act six times since his arrest in 2010 and every Act was quashed by the state high court, yet, he was not released.
PSA, often considered as a draconian Law by human rights activists provides for arresting and jailing a person without trial for two years on mere suspicion.
Soon after the news about the release of Masrat was announced, Jammu and Kashmir unit of BJP youth wing held a protest in Jammu against the release of separatist leader Masrat Alam.
“The protest was led by the state general secretary of the BJP youth wing and I was also part of it,” senior BJP leader Yudhvir Sethi said.
Terming Masarat Alam as anti-national who would further fuel militancy in Jammu and Kashmir, the protesters demanded his immediate arrest.
“We will never tolerate the release of an anti-national leader who is a threat to the national security,” a protester said. He said the youth wing of the party would increase its
agitation in the days to come if Chief Minster Mufti Sayeed does not order the re-arrest of Alam.
Meanwhile, questioning the decision of the BJP-PDP state government to release the separatist leader instrumental in triggering 2010 stone pelting agitation, Congress asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Rajanth Singh and RSS to clarify their stand on release of Masrat.
“The Prime Minister, Union Home Minister, RSS besides Minister of State in Prime Minister Office Dr Jitendra Singh and Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh, who belongs to Jammu region, should clarify their stand on the Masrat issue,” Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) Chief Spokesman and MLC Ravinder Sharma told reporters.
“We question the decision of the Mufti Sayeed government, of whose BJP is coalition partner. Where is BJP gone? It seems BJP has gone in coma or they are on ventilator after becoming part of the government,” Sharma added.
Meanwhile, there was a completely different scenario in Kashmir on the release of Separatist leader. Masrat’s supporters were seen going to his home in old town area of Srinagar to congratulate the family. Some people were seen carrying rose petals and garlands to welcome the separatist leader.
“Release of political prisoners is a welcome gesture. It’s high time to stand for a peace.” a local Kashmiri Said.
It should be mentioned here that on Wednesday, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed held a review meeting with Director General of Police, K Rajendra, along with and Inspector General, CID, B. Srinivasan and instructed the police to initiate a “process of releasing all those political prisoners in the state against whom no criminal charges are registered.”
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