Masarat Alam's detention under PSA quashed

 

In the absence of Masrat Aalam who has been lodged in Kot Balwal jail Jammu, the court of Justice Hasnain Masoodi, who had earlier reserved order on the petition filed by Alam's counsel, quashed the PSA detention of the 45-year-old separatist leader.

The State Government had arrested Masrat Aalam after he allegedly waved Pakistani flags during a welcome rally organized for Syed Ali Geelani on 17 April. An FIR under sections 13 of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 120-B, 147, 341, 336, 427 RPC was registered in Budgam Police Station against Alam and other separatist leaders.

Alam was released on March 7, six days after the PDP-led government came to power. He was released after over four years of detention in connection with the 2010 summer agitation in the valley.

Alam’s release had created a furore across India and the issue had even figured in the Parliament proceedings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi making a statement on the floor of the house.

Presently lodged in Kotbalwal Jail Jammu, Alam was first detained under PSA on Oct 2, 1990 and released in November 1991. He was again detained under law in 1993 and was released in February 1997.

However six months later, he was picked up again, and kept in jail for three years, until May 2000.

He was detained for the fourth time in January, 2001 and released in August 2003. Alam was against detained for the fifth time and was in detention till July 2005.  Since, 16 Jan 2008 he has been detained on many occasions under PSA.


(Reporting by Saleem Iqbal Qadri)