Srinagar, May 28 (KNS): With mainstream, separatist leaders demanding the release of political prisoners before Eid-ul-Fitr, it remains to be seen whether the Governor S P Malik led administration will take a call on the occasion of sacred festival that is likely to fall on June 5.
In the past, the J&K government used to release separatist leaders ahead of Eid. What remains to be seen is whether the Governor would follow the line being followed by all the successive regimes of Jammu and Kashmir to release political prisoners and stone pelters with minor offences on Eid eve.
A top official in the Governor administration told Kashmir News Service (KNS) that it was the sole prerogative of the Governor Malik to take a call on whether to release any prisoner or stone pelter on the eve of Eid. “There are apprehensions that if some separatist leaders, activists and youth booked for stone pelting are released, it would have an adverse impact on the law and order situation, especially in the Valley, however discussions were on but final call will be taken by the Governor himself,” the officer told KNS, wishing not to be named.
According to a senior police officer, there is a committee headed by the Commissioner Secretary home with DGP, IGP and many others as its members, who review the cases of prisoners ahead of every festival. “The cases of those who have fewer offences against them are being forwarded to the Governor and it is up to him to decide on the names being suggested by the panel,” he said. “The meeting of the panel to review the cases of prisoners and stone pelters is scheduled in a couple of days.”
According to the official figures not more than 1200 prisoners and stone pelters are lodged within or outside the Jails, who belong to Kashmir. However, separatists counter the official figure saying that more than 5000 Kashmiri prisoners including more than 30 separatists’ leaders, a business man and three women separatist leaders are languishing in various jails of India and Jammu and Kashmir.
Pertinently, releasing political prisoners on the eve of Eid has always been a “goodwill gesture” and a confidence building measure taken by all the previous elected governments. This time, what remains to be seen is that whether Governor Malik would follow the same old tradition or decide to not to release any prisoner on Eid eve.
Sources in the Governor led administration said that things will be clear after the review meeting scheduled to be held within three days from now. “Decks will be clear soon. There are obviously some prisoners who have minor offences against them that can be pardoned. Similarly, stone pelters who have already given in writing that they won’t indulge in the violence again too can be released,” sources said.
Pertinently, at least 200 prisoners including stone pelters were shifted from the Srinagar central jail since the massive scuffle between inmates and jail authorities in April this year. All of them have been lodged in various Jails of Jammu region.
It is to mention here that some political and separatist leaders have demanded the release of political prisoners.
President of the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Movement Shah Faesal on Tuesday called on Governor Satya Pal Malik at Raj Bhavan Srinagar and briefed the Governor regarding the plight of political detainees shifted to jails outside the State and sought his intervention in seeking their immediate release.
Jammu Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (JKDFP) has stressed upon the government to release all Kashmiri political prisoners as a good will gesture
Tehreek-e-Hurriyat (TeH) chairman Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai Tuesday reiterated his demand for unconditional release of all political prisoners before the Eid- ul-Fitar.
“The government has no legal and moral justification to prolong the detentions of political prisoners. So we demand their release so that they might join their families on the auspicious occasion Eid-ul-Fitr,” Sehrai said in a statement. (KNS)