High drama enfolded in Valley on Thursday with police detaining and subsequently releasing within few hours all separatist leaders, with speculation making rounds that the development was a attempt to stop the pro-freedom group to meet Pakistan National Security Advisor Sartaj Aziz in New Delhi on August 24. Sources also said the release was a result of intervention by PDP President Mehbooba Mufti.
Reports said that from early morning police put restrictions on the movement of the several separatist leaders including moderate Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Maulana Mohammad Abbas Ansari, Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai, Shabir Ahmad Shah and Ayaz Akbar. Security personnel were deployed outside the Hydrepora residence of Hurriyat (G) Chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who is already under house arrest. JKLF Chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik was taken into preventive custody from his Maisuma residence and lodged at police station Kothibagh. The second rung leadership of separatists were also arrested and many of them were also released later.
Sources told KNS that as the news about the arrest and detention of Hurriyat leaders spread, a miffed Mehbooba Mufti intervened by taking the issue with police, which subsequently resulted in the release of separatists.
The reason behind the detention, as per sources, could have been done to give a message to Pakistan that its engagement with separatist leaders was not welcome, especially at a time when their National Security Advisors are to meet
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, meanwhile, termed his arrest and subsequent release as mere drama played by government to prevent separatist leaders to meet visiting Pakistan NSA in New Delhi. While condemning it, he added that it was beyond his understanding why the drama was being played. “Is state government under pressure from New Delhi to stop us from meeting Sartaj Aziz sahib or there is something else to it,” he told KNS over phone.
Mirwaiz added that Hurriyat (M) has always supported India-Pakistan dialogue and “this is our policy.”
“We (separatists) have always played a role in improving the relations between India and Pakistan and will continue doing so. Kashmir is the core issue between the two nations and its solution is necessary for the people of both India and Pakistan,” he said, adding that dialogue was the only way to resolve the issue.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel“India and Pakistan should talk and involve Kashmiris. Then only the issue can be resolved once for all,” he said.
Meanwhile, former chief minister Omar Abdullah said that there is no precedent of state governments detaining Hurriyat leaders to prevent them from visiting the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi. He claimed the India-Pakistan talks were being held “under international pressure” with both countries hoping the other will pull out.
“Shelling, Infiltration, terror attacks & now Hurriyat arrests, clearly no side wants to talk & yet neither side has the guts to call it off," the former chief minister said in a series of tweets.
"I've never seen an Indo-Pak dialogue where both sides are so keen to sabotage it. India & Pak competing to give reasons to call off talks. It's so obvious that Ufa & now these planned NSA talks are under international pressure with both Ind & Pak hoping the other will pull out," he said.
Congress termed the development as the “Modi model of politics” and said the state government was “directionless and thoughtless”. “There is confusion and chaos everywhere in the government, which is clearly running on whims. Because of these things there is uncertainty in the state,” state Congress chief Ghulam Ahmad Mir told KNS.
BJP leaders in Jammu and Kashmir said the Hurriyat Conference should not be allowed to hold talks with Pakistani officials. “People of Jammu and Kashmir have elected a government. Hurriyat people are murderers of democracy. We will not allow them to talk to Pakistan," BJP MLA Ravinder Raina said.
Pakistan High Commission in Delhi has invited Geelani for a meeting on August 24 with Aziz, who will be in the national capital for talks with Indian NSA Ajit Doval. Moderate separatist leaders have also been invited for a reception being hosted by the High Commission in New Delhi for the visiting Pakistani official on August 23.
The development of arresting and releasing of the separatists has also put state government on backburner, as all police and government functionaries remained tight-lipped for whole day. Sources added that the issue gives credence to the views that government functions in utter confusion.