Hurriyat leaders released: Decision was taken by J&K state govt

Srinagar, Aug 20: Three separatists on Thursday, Aug 20 were placed under house arrest only to be released two hours later.

While the central government is doing the firefighting on the issue, the entire decision to first arrest and release the separatists was taken by the state government.

The decision to place the three separatists under house arrest was taken on Wednesday night itself.

However this morning, someone close to the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir advised him against continuing with the order of house arrest which led to the release.

Continuing arrest would have had repurcussions:

The Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir was told that there would be unwarranted repercussions.

Moreover, the blame would be on the PDP for stalling the talks between the NSA of Pakistan and the separatists, the J&K CM was told.

In the past too separatists have spoke with Pakistani officials and this time a new precedent should not be set and the PDP ought to be blamed for this, the CM was also told.

These are some of the aspects that led to the release of the sepratists.

Intelligence Bureau officials tell OneIndia that there were other aspects too which went into the decision leading up to the arrests of the separatists.

There was an alert stating that they would cause problems on Friday ahead of the prayers. Intelligence reports suggested that the disturbances were planned ahead of the NSA level talks.

Separatists normally tend to cause such disturbances to gain the attention of Pakistan and hence the house arrest became all the more important, the official also added.

Meeting will take place:

New Delhi would not prevent the talks between the separatists and the Pakistan's NSA, Sartaj Aziz. Let them talk, but we will consider what they have discussed at the bi-lateral, a highly placed source informed.

Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar have already confirmed their attendance at the meeting with Aziz. Yasin Mallik is yet to take a call on the issue, but sources indicate that he too would attend the meeting.

Mirwaiz Umar is expected to lead the delegation to Delhi on August 23rd. Geelani is expected to join the delegation the Aug 24.

OneIndia News