JK: Only 15 PSA detenues being released
Srinagar,
Oct
9:
Rejecting
the
demand
of
some
separatist
and
mainstream
political
parties
for
the
release
of
all
detenues
languishing
in
different
jails
in
and
outside
the
state
on
the
eve
of
Eid-ul-Fitr,
a
joint
review
committee
has
recommended
for
the
release
of
just
15
detenues.
The breakaway Hurriyat Conference (HC) chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani and other separatist organisations had demanded the release of all detenues detained for years in different jails and detention centres.
However, Communist Party of India (M) State secretary Mohammad Yousuf Targami and National Conference had demanded the release of all detenues against whom there is no serious charge and whose detention has been quashed by the courts.
An official spokesman said the review committee constituted by the Jammu and Kashmir government for scrutiny of the cases of persons detained under Public Safety Act (PSA) reviewed 277 cases for their involvement in militancy related activities in the state.
Besides Financial Commissioner (Home) B R Kundal, Director General of State Police Kuldeep Khuda, Inspector General of CID K Rajendra Kumar, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs Mitali Sen Gavai and Joint Director of IB Arun Chaudhary took part in the meeting.
The committee examined all the cases in detail and recommended the release of 15 persons from detention, he said.
On Saturday a senior separatist leader Bilal Siddiqui was released after 13 years of detention.
The HC alleged that hundreds of Kashmiri youths are still in jails even after their release by the courts.
The NC alleged that state government has failed to convene any meeting of screening committee to recommend the release of detenues for the past several years. The main opposition party in the state said that coalition government has surrendered the authority to release the detenues to centre. However, during the NC rule screening committee meetings were being held at all district headquarters every month recommending the release of detenues.
UNI