BH CORRESPONDENT, New Delhi: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah was released on Tuesday after authorities revoked his detention after seven months. Two weeks ago his father Farooq Abdullah was also released from detention.
The Jammu and Kashmir government has issued an order to release Omar Abdullah who was kept in detention since August 5 when the Centre abrogated Article 370 and bifurcated the state into two Union Territories.
Omar was booked under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA). According to news agency PTI, officials have said PSA against Omar will also be revoked.
Omar has spent 232 days in custody since the government announced abrogation of the special status of the erstwhile state last year.
The National Conference leader was initially detained under preventive custody and later slapped with the PSA on February 5.
Former CM and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti is also under detention since August 5 when both Omar and Farooq Abdullah were also detained.
Hearing a plea filed by his sister Sara Abdullah Pilot, the Supreme Court had asked the Centre to come clear on Omar Abdullah’s release.
A two-judge bench of the top court, which had asked the government in February to explain Omar Abdullah’s detention, last week cautioned the government that it would take up the petition on merits on the next date of hearing if the state did not release him.