Former J &K CM Mehbooba shifted to residence, detention continues

Srinagar:Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti was on Tuesday shifted from a Srinagar sub-jail to her official residence, where she was put under house arrest.

Official sources said Ms Mehbooba was on Tuesday shifted to her Gupkar Road official residence. "She has been put under house arrest at her residence, which has been converted into a sub-jail," they added. 

"In exercise of the powers conferred by Clause (b) of Section 2 of the Prisoners Act, 1990, the government hereby declares Fairview, Gupkar Road, Srinagar as "Subsidiary Jail"," read an order issued by Principal Secretary to Government Shaleen Kabra on Tuesday.

Another order, read, "In exercise of the powers conferred under Section 10 (b) of the J&K Public Safety Act (PSA), 1978, the government hereby orders change of place of lodgment of Mehbooba Mufti D/O Late Mufti Mohammad Syeed, detained by the District Magistrate Srinagar, from Subsidiary Jail, Transport Yard, M A road, Srinagar to Subsidiary jail, Fairview, Gupkar raod with immediate effect."

Ms Mehbooba, former chief ministers Omar Abdullah and Farooq Abdullah, besides dozens of mainstream leaders, including ex-ministers, were detained on August 5, 2019, when the Centre abrogated Article 370 and Article 35 A, besides bifurcated the state into two Union Territories. The PDP president was later booked under the Public Safety Act (PSA) and stayed in solitary confinement for over eight months.

Former chief minister and National Conference (NC) Vice-President Omar Abdullah, who was released last month after about eight month detention, demanded for the release of Ms Mehbooba, saying shifting her home while continuing to keep her detained is a cop out. "@MehboobaMufti must be set free. Shifting her home while continuing to keep her detained is a cop out," Mr Abdullah tweeted.

Dr Farooq, who is MP from Srinagar, was also released last month after remaining under detention for about seven months. The NC president was released after his PSA was revoked by the J&K administration.

'Mehbooba must be set free,' demands Omar

Srinagar: Demanding former chief minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti to be set free, National Conference (NC) vice president Omar Abdullah said merely shifting her home while keeping her under detention was a cop out.

Ms Mehbooba was on Tuesday shifted from a Srinagar sub-jail to her official residence, where she was put under house arrest.

"@MehboobaMufti must be set free. Shifting her home while continuing to keep her detained is a cop out," Mr Abdullah, who is a former chief minister, wrote on micro-blogging site twitter.

Welcoming the shifting of Ms Mehbooba from a makeshift jail to her residence, Jammu Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) also demanded that the Public Safety Act (PSA) of the PDP president be revoked and she be released.

Ms Mehbooba, Mr Abdullah and former chief minister Farooq Abdullah, besides dozens of mainstream leaders, including ex-ministers, were detained on August 5, 2019, when Centre abrogated Article 370 and Article 35 A, besides bifurcated the state into two Union Territories. The PDP president was later booked under the Public Safety Act (PSA) and stayed in solitary confinement for over eight months.

Mr Abdullah was released last month after about eight month detention, following revocation of PSA. Dr Farooq, who is MP from Srinagar, was also released last month after remaining under detention for about seven months. The NC president was released after his PSA was revoked by the J&K administration.(UNI)