Watch Alam all times: Home ministry tells J&K govt

New Delhi, March 12: The Union Home Ministry on Thursday a tough advisory to the Jammu and Kashmir government following the release of Masarat Alam. In its advisory the Home Ministry has directed the Jammu and Kashmir government to keep a tight surveillance on hard line Hurriyat leader, Alam at all times.

Further the advisory also directs the Jammu and Kashmir government to take up all the cases that are pending against Alam. The advisory notes that Alam is facing at least 27 cases against him which include sedition charges.

Keep a watch at all times:

Home Ministry sources told Oneindia that there is a need to keep a watch on Alam's activities at all times. He can pose a risk as the past has shown. This time around the government wants no confusion and his release should not prove counter productive to the efforts made by both the government and the army in maintaining peace in the Valley.

The last order issued under the Public Safety Act before Alam was detained had stated that he has "anti national," written in his blood. The Home Ministry says that any attempts of him trying to marshal forces in a bid to disrupt peace should be thwarted at any cost.

Pursue the cases seriously:

Under the Public Safety Act a person can be detained only for a particular period of time. The act is used to thwart immediate attempts being made by persons trying to disrupt peace. However one cannot be eternally detained under the Act.

In this regard the Home Ministry has told the Jammu and Kashmir government that it would need to take steps to try in him in all the cases pending against him. He has serious charges slapped against him which include sedition and if tried quickly, there would be no room to detain or release him as there would be a valid court order.

In the case of Alam there has been a huge controversy since there is no court order which has convicted him. A detention can only solve the problem temporarily and hence it is important that the government in Jammu and Kashmir take steps to ensure that the cases are taken up before the courts and he is tried, a home ministry official also informed.

Oneindia News