J&K sending detailed report on Alam's release

Jammu, March 11 (IANS) The Jammu and Kashmir government is sending a detailed report to the union home ministry on Wednesday on the controversial release of separatist leader Masrat Alam.

State government sources told IANS in winter capital Jammu that the ministry had expressed dissatisfaction over the earlier report sent to it by the state home department on Alam's release.

"A comprehensive report has now been prepared dealing with all the aspects of Masrat Alam's release. It is being sent to the MHA today (Wednesday)," top government sources said.

They said the ministry has sought clarifications on specific issues like the court directions which led to Alam's release, list of cases pending against him and their present status and also the reasons that prevented the state government from keeping the separatist in detention.

Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, who is in the eye of a political storm for having released the separatist, has directed both the state home department and the police chief to ensure that a comprehensive report is sent to the ministry on Wednesday, sources added.

Sources privy to the state home department's report said the the orders for the release of the separatist were issued many days before the present BJP-PDP government took office. The orders were issued in light of an apex court directive on Alam's continued detention.

"The guidelines issued by the Supreme Court prohibit detention of any individual for the same offence on more than one occasion. Judgments of the Supreme Court which formed the basis for quashing Alam's detention have also been furnished in the report, which says the state law department was in the loop while ordering the release," sources said.

As for the cases pending against Alam, the report says there are 15 such in different courts and the FIRs lodged against him include those under sections 120 and 120 of the Indian Penal Code. The sections pertain to waging war against the state.

Home Secretary Suresh Kumar has confirmed that no separatist leader or militant is being released by the state government as is being highlighted in some media reports.

He also denied that any list had been prepared to facilitate such releases in the near future.

Top government sources ridiculed rumours that the state government had ever decided to release Ashiq Hussain Faktoo who is serving a life sentence that has been upheld by the Supreme Court.