Adviser to J&K Governor says detained leaders to be released 'one by one'

Nearly two months after the abrogation of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, an adviser to Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik said that the leaders in Kashmir, who were kept under house arrest, will be released in a phased manner.

The leaders from Jammu, who were also placed under house arrest, were released on Wednesday, reported NDTV on Thursday (October 3). The development comes days after the election for the Block Development Council, the second tier of Panchayat Raj system in the state, was announced

The adviser, Farooq Khan, was also quoted as saying by news agency ANI that the Kashmiri leaders will be released “one by one after analysis of every individual.”

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The report said that around 400 political leaders of the state, including former chief ministers Farooq Abdullah, his son Omar Abdullah and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, were placed under house arrest in the wake of the government’s decision to revoke the special status granted to the state under Article 370 of the Indian Constitution on August 5. The Centre had also decided to bifurcate the state into two Union Territories.

The detention of the leaders was a part of several stringent security measures, which included prohibitory orders and communication clampdown, undertaken by the government to prevent backlash in the Valley.

(With inputs from agencies)

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