The J&K administration released four more political leaders from a sub-jail in Srinagar on Sunday but is dragging its feet on the release of top mainstream leaders including Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah of the National Conference (NC) and Mehbooba Mufti of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who will complete six months in jail on February 5.
An official identified the four leaders, under detention since the Centre’s August 5 move to revoke J&K special status, as Mohammad Yousuf Bhat of the PDP and Abdul Majid Larmi, Mohammad Shafi and Ghulam Nabi Bhat of the NC.
They were released from the MLA Hostel in Srinagar, a facility for legislators that was converted into a sub-jail in November to accommodate over 40 mainstream leaders.
Earlier on January 16, five leaders were released. An official said just 16 leaders remain inside the MLA Hostel now.
Senior leaders still inside the MLA Hostel include NC’s Ali Muhammad Sagar, who has significant hold in parts of the old city; PDP’s Naeem Akhar, considered a political guru of former Chief Minister and PDP president Ms. Mufti; Sajad Lone, whose Peoples Conference holds sway in parts of Handwara and Kupwara in north Kashmir; and Sahah Faesal, chief of the J&K Peoples Movement, a party that attracted youth immediately after it was launched in Srinagar in 2019. PDP’s youth president Wahid Parra also remains behind the bars.
A senior official told The Hindu there is no timeline decided on the release of the heavyweight politicians yet, which include NC president Dr. Abdullah and vice president Omar, besides Ms. Mufti.
