Hurriyat hardliner Masarat Alam released from jail on orders of Jammu and Kashmir govt

Jammu: Kashmiri separatist leader Masarat Alam, who played a key role in organising the 2010 civil unrest in the Valley was released on Saturday after remaining incarcerated for four and a half years.

The move came days after Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, instructed the police to immediately initiate the process of releasing all political prisoners against whom there are no criminal cases.

He had told senior police and intelligence officers at a meeting held in Jammu on Wednesday that this would send a positive message across the political spectrum of the state. He had also said, "Dissent in democracy makes the system vibrant and dynamic and we should always try to evolve such a system" and that democracy was a battle of ideas and it should not be held hostage to the agreements or disagreements on issues.

Police sources said that Alam, a close confidant of Syed Ali Shah Geelani, and who heads Muslim Conference which is a constituent of the Hurriyat Conference faction led by the octogenarian separatist leader, was released from Baramulla district jail.

During the 2010 unrest, Alam went underground forcing the police to announce a cash reward of Rs 1 million for information leading to his arrest. Upon his arrest from the outskirts of Srinagar City on October 18, 2010 after a four-month long hunt, the state authorities repeatedly slapped stringent Public Safety Act (PSA) on him saying he poses a serious threat to peace and national security.

The sources said the 42-year-old separatist leader was set free after the concerned authorities revoked the latest detention order issues against him under the PSA.

J&K's Director General of police, K. Rajendra Kumar, confirmed Aalam's release and said the relevant order had come from the state government. "Yes, he has been released from Baramulla jail and is being brought to Srinagar," he told this newspaper.

Earlier during the day, Mr. Kumar told reporters in Jammu that the State police will comply with the directions of the Chief Minister. "Yes, all the directions issued by the government (on release from jails of political prisoners against whom there are no criminal charges) will be complied with. Let us be assured about it," he said. Asked if the process of releasing political prisoners has begun at the level of the police, he said, "Any direction coming from the government would be looked into and appropriately worked out."

State Home Department sources said that Aalam did not face any criminal charges. Police chief when asked if Kashmiri youth involved in stone-pelting incidents and other similar acts were also being set free said that his department was preparing a 'blueprint' on the release of prisoners. "At the moment, we will not be able to say much on that. Let us work on it. We will get back to you," he said.

Muslim League leader Masrat Alam released from Baramulla jail. pic.twitter.com/uV8H93lpmo

— ANI (@ANI_news) March 7, 2015