Caged For Over 110 Days, Two Kashmiri Leaders Released From House Arrest

The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Monday released two leaders, who have been held captive since August 5 when the Centre announced to strip Kashmir of its special status, even as the mainstream politicians like Omar Abdullah, Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti continued to remain into custody. "Dilawar Mir, who is from PDP, and Ghulam Hassan Mir, were under detention for over 110 days and were released by the new union territory administration," officials said. Besides their release, the authorities also shifted two others to their houses from the MLA hostel.

 They were former MLAs and they had been under detention at their respective residences from August 5, the day when Centre announced abrogation of provisions of Article 370. Ashraf Mir and Hakeen Yaseen, who were MLAs in the last state assembly of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, would be shifted to their residences but remain under detention, the officials said. Both Mir and Yaseen were among the 34 political leaders who were lodged at the MLA hostel after being shifted from Centaur hotel in Srinagar.

Also Read | For How Long Mainstream Kashmir Leaders Will Remain In Detention?

It's been over 110 days since mainstream Kashmiri leaders were detained in anticipation of protests against the Centre’s move to divide Kashmir into two parts and revoke the state’s special status, even as the Modi government claims everything is fine in the Valley.

"Is it not that Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti take their oaths under the Constitution of India. Omar Abdullah has held several positions in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Cabinet, you have been in a government with Mehbooba Mufti, and today you have put them in the same category as separatists,"Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera had said.