Mufti Mohammed Sayeed’s new googly, frees jailed separatist

Srinagar: Kashmiri separatist leader Massarat Aalam, who is a close confidant of Syed Ali Shah Geelani and heads the Muslim Conference, which is a constituent of the Hurriyat Conference faction led by the octogenarian separatist leader, was released from Baramulla jail.

During the 2010 unrest, Mr Aalam went underground, forcing the police to announce a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh for information leading to his arrest.

On his arrest from the outskirts of Srinagar on October 18, 2010 after a four-month-long hunt, the state authorities repeatedly slapped the stringent Public Safety Act on him, saying he posed a serious threat to national security.

The sources said the 42-year-old separatist leader was set free after the authorities concerned revoked the latest detention order issues against him under PSA.

State home department sources said that Mr Aalam did not face any criminal charges.

Before his release on Saturday, he was, however, warned against indulging in or instigating any violence.

The police chief, when asked if Kashmiri youth involved in stone-pelting were also being set free, said that his department was preparing a “blueprint” on the release of prisoners.