Govt revokes detention of two Kashmir politicians

Samaan Lateef
Tribune News Service
Srinagar, June 18

After nearly 10 months, the J&K Government on Thursday revoked the detention of Peoples Democratic Party leader Naeem Akhter and National Conference politician Hilal Lone.

The duo was detained under Public Safety Act (PSA) to prevent them from protesting against the Centre’s August 5 decision to abrogate Article 370 and bifurcate J&K state into two Union Territories—Ladakh and J&K.

“In exercise of powers conferred under Section 19 (1) of PSA, 1978, the government hereby revoked detention… of Akhter (and Lone) with immediate effect,” reads revocation of detention order issued by Principal Secretary Home Shaleen Kabra.

Both Akhter and Lone were arrested on August 5, 2019 from his home and was put in preventive custody under Section 107 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPc).

They were booked under the Public Safety Act (PSA) in February.

They were lodged in a government bungalow in Gupkar locality of Srinagar which was turned into a subsidiary jail.

Lone is son of sitting member Parliament from north Kashmir Muhammad Akbar Lone.