Produce Hurriyat leader on every hearing: Court

Srinagar, Jan 31: On the heels of State High Court's order imposing fine on five District Magistrates (DM) for failing to provide information about detenues, a local court has directed Jammu and Kashmir police to produce senior leader of breakaway Hurriyat Conference (HC) Masarat Aalam Bhat before it on every hearing.

The First Additional Sessions Judge in his order said action under law would be taken in case of non- compliance of the court directives.

Aalam was arrested early last year when he, alongwith other Hurriyat leaders, was addressing a press conference in a local hotel here.

He was later detained under Public Safety Act (PSA) on the orders of District Magistrate here. However, the court quashed the detention order and directed police to release him in October last year. Aalam was released and re-arrested immediately.

The prosecution informed the court that Aalam was again booked undere PSA for two years from January 17 for allegedly playing a role in strengthening the Hurriyat Conference (Geelani). The prosecution alleged that this faction of the group comprises hardliners and pro-Pakistan elements.

The fresh grounds for detention under PSA says Aalam was challenging the accession of the State with the Union of India, therefore affecting the territorial integrity of the country.

The court directed the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), here, to produce Aalam before the court on every hearing failing which action under law for non-compliance of the order would be taken against him.

The charges for detention further says that HC organised a public meeting at Eidgah without permission from the authorities in April last year. During the public meeting besides anti-Indian slogans, flags of militant groups were also hoisted.

A HC spokesman said the charges levelled against Aalam this time were also the same which had been quashed by the court in its earlier order when he (Aalam) was released and re-arrested immediately in October.

He said authorities are ignoring court orders as hundreds of others are also languishing in different jails in and outside the state for years despite being released by the courts.

State High Court imposed a fine on five District Majistrates for their failure to provide information about detenues to court yesterday.

UNI