Tuesday, Nov 12, 2002
Tuesday, Nov 12, 2002 |
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By Shujaat Bukhari
Released from the Kot Bhalwal jail in Jammu this morning, Mr. Malik was flown to Srinagar. As soon as he arrived at the airport, he was taken away by police for completing the formalities for his release. He was set free in the evening and he received a warm reception at his Maisuma house which is also the headquarters of the JKLF. A large number of his supporters thronged his house to greet him. Mr. Malik refused to talk but said his release was unconditional. "I will reply to all your questions at a press conference tomorrow," a visibly exhausted Mr. Malik told The Hindu. Official sources said that he had been released on a month's parole, which was likely to be extended. One of the seven executive members of the Hurriyat, Mr. Malik was arrested on March 25 last while addressing a press conference. He was arrested under POTA, following police claims that a young man and a woman who were travelling from Jammu to Srinagar were carrying $1 lakh for him, which had come from across the border. Both had been arrested by the police but have since been released. In May, Mr. Malik was granted bail by a local court but was re-arrested under the Public Safety Act. Mr. Malik's release comes close on the heels of the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed's announcement that all the political prisoners are being released — a commitment made in the Congress-PDP ruling coalition's Common Minimum Programme. A former JKLF commander, Showkat Bakhshi, and his two associates, Nazir Ahmed Sheikh and Mushtaq Ahmed Khan, were released last week. The senior Hurriyat leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, and Sheikh Aziz will also be released shortly. Earlier in the day, Showkat Bakhshi told a news conference that the Kashmir problem was basically a political one but had become a humanitarian issue. None of the agreements of the past could stop bloodshed in Kashmir and the parties concerned should come forward to resolve the issue. Militants, meanwhile, detonated a powerful landmine near Ramsu on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway when a CRPF convoy was passing through the area. It hit one of the vehicles which was blown off in the air killing four CRPF personnel — Mohammad Ishaq, Mandhir Mandal, Pradeep Singh, and Gautam Kumar — on the spot. Two of the seriously injured jawans died of injuries on way to hospital. Seven of the injured were admitted to hospital. Militants also shot dead a National Conference leader and secretary of the Srinagar Municipality, Ghulam Nabi Chintsaaz, in Mujahid Manzil area here this morning. The former Chief Minister, Farooq Abdullah, and the National Conference president, Omar Abdulllah, have condemned the killing.
Advani won't comment
Our New Delhi Special Correspondent reports: The Centre today declined to comment on the release of Mr. Malik. The Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, responding to questions from journalists said, "I would not like to comment on the issue''. The Kashmir Committee, which is in dialogue with the Hurriyat Conference, is believed to have appealed to Mr. Advani for Mr. Malik's release prior to the Assembly elections in the State.
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