Hardline separatist leader Masarat Alam Bhat, who spearheaded anti-India protests in Kashmir Valley in the summer of 2010 resulting in the death of 112 people in stone-pelting incidents, was released on Saturday after serving more than four years’ detention in several J&K jails.
PDP sources termed it as Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s bid to initiate confidence building measures within various shades of opinion in the embattled State. But the BJP is cut up over the “unilateral” decision to release the pro-Pakistan Alam Bhat and its leaders are gearing up for the next Cabinet meeting to take up the issue.
Though the BJP did not officially react to Alam Bhat’s release, nevertheless, the thinking in its camp was evident with senior leader Ashok Koul voicing concern over Mufti’s plans to set free separatist leaders and permit their political activities. He questioned how Mufti could go ahead with such decisions without taking the BJP into confidence.
Alam Bhat, who had launched the “Quit Kashmir Movement” in 2010, was detained under Public Safety Act (PSA) in sub-jail Baramulla in North Kashmir. The court had quashed his detention orders several times in the past but the State authorities used to re-arrest him before leaving the court premises.
However, Mufti on Wednesday directed State Police chief K Rajendra to initiate the process of releasing political prisoners. The DGP on Saturday said that the CM’s instructions would be followed. Sources said that Principal Secretary Home Suresh Kumar went to his office in the civil secretariat Jammu despite an off-day to issue requisite orders.
Alam Bhat, 42, is top leader of the Muslim league, a constituent of the Syed Ali Geelani-led faction of Hurriyat Conference. He is one of the most prominent separatist leaders who were behind bars for their political activities. Barring Bhat, most of the leaders detained during the 2010 summer agitation were subsequently released.
Alam Bhat, a science graduate, came into the limelight for his hardline approach during the 2008 and 2010 summer agitations. The pro-Pakistan leader is tech-savvy and commands influence on a large section of youth in capital Srinagar.
Alam Bhat spearheaded the 2010 agitation when he went underground and took command of the protests after Geelani was detained. He launched the “Quit Kashmir Movement” and asked people to continue protests until Indian troops left Jammu & Kashmir.
The authorities announced a bounty of Rs 10 lakh for his arrest and finally tracked him from a hideout in Srinagar’s outskirts in October 2010. After his detention, the agitation that resulted in the death of 112 protesters and bystanders mellowed down.
Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had conceded that his handling of the 2010 agitation was one of his biggest mistakes. Though Omar announced a probe in the killings at the fag end of his tenure, the process did not take off. Now, Mufti has promised to give “justice” to the victims’ families. PDP leaders say that Alam Bhat’s release is part of the Mufti’s policy to bring about drastic changes in the ground situation in Kashmir.
“The coalition Government will facilitate and help initiate a sustained and meaningful dialogue with all internal stakeholders, which will include all political groups irrespective of their ideological views and predilections. This dialogue will seek to build a broad-based consensus in resolution of all outstanding issues of J&K,” they point to the Agenda of Alliance that was formulated by the BJP and PDP leadership before forming the Government to justify the action.