JK govt issues orders revoking Omar Abdullah’s detention

Tribune News Service
Srinagar, March 24 

The Jammu and Kashmir government issued an order revoking the detention of former chief minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday.

232 days after my detention today I finally left Hari Niwas. It’s a very different world today to the one that existed on 5th August 2019. pic.twitter.com/Y44MNwDlNz

— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) March 24, 2020

In a tweet, government spokesperson Rohit Kansal said: “Govt issues orders revoking detention of Shri Omar Abdullah.”

The National Conference leader was in detention at Hari Nivas since August 5, 2019—when Article 370 was abrogated.

Govt issues orders revoking detention of Shri Omar Abdullah@diprjk

— Rohit Kansal (@kansalrohit69) March 24, 2020

In February, Omar was booked under the stringent Public Safety Act. His sister, Sara Abdullah Pilot had disputed in the Supreme Court the claim that freeing her brother will pose an imminent threat to public order.

Also read: SC notice to J-K on Sara Pilot’s plea against brother Omar’s detention

Last week, the Supreme Court had asked the Centre and Jammu and Kashmir Administration to spell out if it planned to release Abdullah.

“If you are releasing him, then release him soon or we will hear the matter on merits,” a Bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra had said.

During his detention, part of a major crackdown to prevent protest against the abrogation of Article 370, Omar grew a long beard that has dramatically changed his appearance.

Omar’s father and former chief minister Farooq Abdullah was only recently released from detention. 

Omar’s political career saw him becoming the Minister of State for External Affairs during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government in 2001-2002. He was elected as the Member of Parliament from Srinagar in 1998 and was also elected as a legislator from Ganderbal and Beerwah constituencies.