JOIN USJ&K told to pursue cases against Alam
The Centre on Thursday said it has instructed the Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) government to vigorously pursue all the 27 cases pending against separatist leader Masarat Alam, who was released recently, and ensure close surveillance on his activities.
Making a suo motu statement on the controversial release of Alam for the second time in four days in both Houses of Parliament, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the state government would ensure that surveillance of the activities of the separatist leader and his followers will be in “close tandem” with Central security and intelligence agencies.
He said an advisory was issued to the state in this regard. The Centre also received a second report from the state government providing more details on the issue.
The ministry also wanted the state government to take steps to “challenge orders pertaining to grant of bail” to him in the pending cases.
“A close surveillance must be ensured on such activities of Alam and his other associates and followers, which are detrimental to public order or the unity and integrity of the country in general and the state of Jammu and Kashmir in particular. Anything coming to adverse notice must be promptly reviewed in the light of the Public Safety Act and appropriate action taken immediately,” Singh quoted from the advisory.
On the report received from J&K, he said the state has informed that a “proper system is in place to have an effective surveillance” over Alam’s activities.
“As and when anything adverse surfaces, appropriate action as envisaged by law will be taken. The intelligence apparatus and the local police work in tandem thereby facilitating planning of advance and adequate deployment of law and order components for maintenance of peace and order in areas likely to be visited by Alam and other separatist elements,” he said.
The state government also informed that there were “no fresh grounds for (Alam’s) detention” and the order of September 15, 2014, under which he was detained so far contained the same old grounds, he said, adding that on February 4, 2015, the government told the district magistrate of Jammu that the order issued by him ceased to remain in force.
The government also told the magistrate that a fresh order could be issued for detention after following the procedure. However, Congress chief whip Jyotiraditya Scindia expressed dissatisfaction over Singh’s reply.