Mainstream J&K politicians should be released from detention: Dilawar Mir

Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party leader Dilawar Mir, who was released from continued detention on Tuesday, told ETV Bharat that he wishes the release of all mainstream politicians detained since August 5. The J&K administration on Monday announced the release of Mir along with that of Democratic Party Nationalist leader Ghulam Hassan Mir.

Srinagar (J&K): After being released from continued detention since August 5, Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party leader Dilawar Mir on Tuesday appealed for the release of other local as well as mainstream politicians from confinement.

"Mainstream politicians should be released from detention, so that they as public representatives can meet the general public and provide a solution to their problems, " Mir told ETV Bharat.

Asked about his future course of action, the MLA representing Rafiabad constituency from Baramulla district of the state said, "I can't say anything right now, I will only be able to decide on our future course of action after meeting my colleagues, and other leaders from the Union Territory."

The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Monday announced the release of Mir along with that of Democratic Party Nationalist leader Ghulam Hassan Mir, who had been under detention since August 5, besides shifting of two others - Ashraf Mir and Hakeen Yaseen, to their houses from the MLA hostel.

Both Mir and Yaseen were among the 34 political leaders who were lodged at the MLA hostel after being shifted from Centaur hotel in Srinagar since the revocation of J&K's special status category.

Earlier, the new Union Territory administration had allowed some of the detained political leaders to visit their homes for a few hours.

The officials said that there was a possibility that some of the political leaders who were detained in their houses might be allowed to move out of the valley on health grounds.

Thirty-four political detainees were shifted to MLA hostel from the hotel, located on the banks of Dal Lake, on November 18, as Srinagar reeled under harsh winter and the hotel lacked proper heating arrangement, the officials said.

The chill took a toll on the health of the detainees, which included leaders from the National Conference, PDP and People's Conference and prominent social activists, along with the security personnel guarding them.

Three former chief ministers - Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti are still under detention.
While senior Abdullah was slapped with the stringent Public Safety Act on September 17 and remains confined to his residence, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti have been detained at different locations in the city.

Mehbooba Mufti was recently shifted to a government accommodation in the city from a tourist hut located at the foothills of Zaberwan range.