Jammu and Kashmir administration has extended former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti‘s detention under the draconian Public Safety Act by three more months, sources said.
The development comes on a day when JKPC chief Sajad Lone and 50-odd mainstream leaders were released from home detention in Srinagar.
The leaders were detained when the central government decided to read down Article 370 and 35-A of the Indian Constitution on August 5 last year.
Lone tweeted about his release.
“Finally five days short of a year, I have been officially informed that I am a free man. So much has changed. So have I. Jail was not a new experience. Earlier ones were harsh with usual doses of physical torture. But this was psychologically draining. Much to share hopefully soon,” his tweet said.
His party too tweeted: “J&K Peoples Conference Chairman Sajad Gani Lone has been officially released after completing 360 days in detention.” Lone, a former MLA from Handwara, was initially detained at the SKICC in Srinagar before he was moved to the MLAs hostel along with other arrested leaders, and was eventually detained at his home.
Many mainstream leaders who were detained last year have since been released, including former Chief Ministers Farooq Abdullah and his son Omar Abdullah.
Mufti charged under the draconian Public Safety Act along with former chief ministers Farooq and Omar Abdullah. -IANS
