PSA against Faesal, 2 PDP men revoked

SRINAGAR: Authorities on Wednesday revoked the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA) slapped on bureaucrat-turned-politician Shah Faesal and two People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leaders to pave the way for their release months after they were detained among hundreds of others to prevent protests against the Centre’s move to divest Jammu & Kashmir of its special status in August last year.

Faesal was released along with Sartaj Madani, a former minister, and Peer Mansoor. Madani is the former chief minister and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti’s uncle and Mansoor has been her political secretary.

Mufti was among three former chief ministers detained last year. She remains under detention under PSA, which allows up to two-year detention without trial. National Conference (NC)’s Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah, the other two former chief ministers, were released in March.

Home secretary Shaleen Kabra signed the order, a copy of which HT has seen, revoking PSA slapped on Faesal, Madani, and Mansoor.

Faesal, who was detained from the Delhi airport on August 14 last year when he was trying to fly abroad, was first slapped with PSA in February. On 13 May, his detention was extended for three months.

Omar Abdullah welcomed Faesal’s release and demanded other leaders be released too. “Good to hear @shahfaesal, Peer Mansoor & Sartaj Madani have been released from their unjust PSA detention. Disappointed that @MehboobaMufti, Sagar Sb & Hilal Lone continue to be detained. It’s high time they are set free as well,’’ he tweeted.