New Delhi, January 24
The Jammu and Kashmir Government today released 18 detainees and said more would be released on the occasion of Id early next month.
“We will be releasing more detainees around Id,” Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed told reporters after he along with other members of the Indian Haj delegation met Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
He said the release of detainees had nothing to do with the talks between Hurriyat Conference and Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani, but was part of the policy of the coalition government with regard to release of prisoners, including militants, after thorough screening.
To a question about the demand made by the Hurriyat for the release of detainees, Mufti Sayeed said, “There is no problem on the demand as his coalition government has been following this agenda.”
However, he made it clear that those involved in serious offences would not be considered for release.
In response to the Hurriyat demand for checking human rights violations in the state, Mufti Sayeed said, “We too want that there should be no human rights abuses. We are making our forces more accountable for every action.”
When his reaction was sought on the Hurriyat demand to visit Pakistan, he said, “It is not an issue... people are coming and going on both sides of the border as part of people-to-people contact.
“Even we are sending an all-party legislators’ goodwill delegation to Pakistan,” he added.
