Political leaders from Kashmir who were under preventive detention following the abrogation of Article 370 will be released soon, a top official from the J&K administration said on Thursday, 3 October.
“One by one, after analysis of every individual, they (leaders) will be released,” Farooq Khan, advisor to Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satyapal Malik, told news agency ANI.
On being asked about the increased activity of the police and security personnel in Jammu and Kashmir, Khan said that it was not due to any special kind of terrorist threat but more of a preventive measure.
"The administration has taken preventive measures by increasing its activity in the region. All forces including police, Army, BSF are on alert and will continue to give fitting reply to the terrorists," he said.
‘Restrictions Lifted,’ Say Several Jammu Political Leaders
Meanwhile, leaders of various parties in Jammu on Wednesday, 2 October claimed that the administration has lifted the nearly two-month-long restrictions "imposed" on them following the abrogation of special status to Jammu and Kashmir, even as officials said these were only "self-imposed" curbs, reported news agency PTI.
After the Centre announced on 5 August dilution of the provisions of Article 370, several politicians, including former ministers and legislators, were placed under house arrest.
“We were told by a station house officer that restriction on me has been lifted and I can move freely,” senior Congress leader and former minister Ramnan Bhalla told PTI.
National Conference (NC) leader and former legislator Devender Singh Rana said, "Police have told me that I am now free to take part in any political activity as restrictions imposed on us are being lifted."
The other leaders who made similar claims are Javed Rana, SS Salathia and Sajjad Kitchloo of the NC, Vikar Rasool of the Congress and Harshdev Singh of Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP).
However, Jammu Divisional Commissioner Sanjeev Verma told PTI that these leaders were never detained and were free to participate in political activities.
"We never restrained them... They were under self-imposed restriction," he said.
He said Devender Singh Rana was freely taking part in public functions related to Navratras in the outskirts of Jammu city on 29 September, and they have been moving freely earlier also.
"If there were house arrests, how could he take part in public events," Verma said.
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