J&K books Masarat Alam under PSA, sends him to Jammu jail

Masarat Alam in custody

A day after the defence tore apart the prosecution and making the bail of separatist leader Masarat Alam imminent, the Jammu and Kashmir government has slapped a new Public Safety Act (PSA) case against him and shifted him to Jammu jail.

The new PSA case against Masarat has come even as Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said that he believes in “battle of ideas”. While in the Opposition, Mufti had been criticising then chief minister Omar Abdullah for booking separatist leaders under the PSA and had promised to release all separatist leaders.

Sources say Masarat was shifted to Jammu’s Kotbalwal jail during the night.

The decision to slap PSA on Masarat was taken after a court in Budgam reserved its decision on his bail application. Citing a J-K High court judgment, the defence said it is not an offence to hoist a Pakistan flag. As Masarat’s bail was imminent, he was booked under PSA.

This is 26th case under the Public Safety Act against Masarat since 1990. Masarat was released in March after spending four and a half years in jail under six cases under the act.

Source:: Indian Express