Jammu leaders’ detention ends
JAMMU: Ahead of the Block Developmental Council elections, house arrest of all political leaders in Jammu ended on Wednesday, nearly two months after the government scrapped Article 370 and imposed a security lockdown. Their counterparts in the Kashmir Valley, however, remain under detention or house arrest.
Several politicians including Congress leader Raman Bhalla, National Conference leaders Devender Singh Rana, Surjit Singh Slathia, Sajjad Ahmed Kitchloo and Javed Rana; Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party leader Harshdev Singh and former minister Lal Singh were put under house on August 5.
As per sources, all leaders held under preventive detention were informed through concerned police stations that they were free to carry out political activities.
Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party leader chairman Harshdev Singh said, “Nationalist and secular leaders of Jammu including JKNPP and leaders of other political parties are under same parameters.
On Tuesday, we were told that we can carry out political activities. In the last 58 days, I was allowed to move only on a couple of occasions as I was instructed not to hold any political rallies or functions.”“The BJP fears that JKNPP can expose its true face to the public,” he added.
Describing his 'house arrest' as unjustified and undemocratic, Congress leader Raman Bhalla said he received a message from the police on Tuesday night.
“We were told by a station house officer that restriction on me has been lifted and I can move freely,” Bhalla told PTI.
National Conference (NC) leader and former legislator Devender Singh Rana said, “Police have told me that I am now free to take part in any political activity as restrictions imposed on us are being lifted.”
However, the administration has claimed that these leaders were never detained and were free to participate in political activities.“Political leaders in Jammu region were not under detention. Anyone who was detained may have been carrying out unlawful activities,” said divisional commissioner Jammu Sanjeev Verma. He said Devender Singh Rana was freely taking part in public functions related to Navratras on September 29, and they have been moving freely earlier also. “If there were house arrests, how could he take part in public events,” Verma said.