Masrat's release was 'legally correct': Top MHA officials

New Delhi, March 16: Days after criticising the release of hardline separatist leader Masarat Alam, top MHA officials now say that his release was a "legally correct and an overdue step".

According to report in Economic Times, the MHA officials said that a close study of documents show that the PDP government had put Alam in "illegal detention" for the past six months.

"We only hope that he does not approach SC against his illegal detention since last September - DM of Jammu will have lot of explaining to do in that case," a senior MHA official was quoted as saying in the report.

It is reported that the court, while hearing Alam's petition in 2012, had instructed the J&K government to give him a week's time to challenge a fresh detention. But he was never given this said time period to challenge his detention.

44-year-old Alam was released from Baramulla jail on Saturday, March 7. The BJP faced criticism from the Opposition in the Parliament over his release by the Muft Sayeed Government in J&K. Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned over controversy on Alam.

People's Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti had said that there is no regret in the Jammu and Kashmir government over the release of Masrat alam. Mufti said her party had done no wrong in releasing Alam and had just upheld a Supreme Court order. She said there is a tendency to subvert the country's constitution when it comes to Kashmir.

OneIndia News