J&K Administration Releases One PDP, Four NC Politicians

Jammu and Kashmir administration released another batch of five politicians who were under detention since August 5 last year, when the special status of J&K was revoked and the state was bifurcated into two Union territories. The politicians released on Thursday were People’s Democratic Party leader Nizamuddin Bhat and four National Conference leaders – Salman Sagar, Showkat Ganai, Altaf Kaloo and Mukhtar Bandh. The politicians were directly handed over to their relatives who had arrived at MLA hostel on Maulana Azad Road in Srinagar, where they were detained along with other political leaders, including Sajad Lone of People’s Conference, Naem Akhtar of PDP and bureaucrat turned-politician Shah Faesal.

Around 19 politicians continue to be detained at MLA hostel. Top leaders of local political parties such as National Conference and PDP – including former chief ministers Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti – remain under detention at three separate locations since August 5. J&K lieutenant governor GC Murmu and his advisor Farooq Khan have said on several occasions that politicians would be released in a phased manner and also hinted at the possible resumption of political activity, which has otherwise been frozen since the Centre’s move to withdraw the special status given to Jammu and Kashmir.

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