Jammu and Kashmir high court on Tuesday quashed the detention of hard-line separatist leader Massarat Aalam Butt under the state’s stringent Public Safety Act (PSA).
Jammu and Kashmir high court on Tuesday quashed the detention of hard-line separatist leader Massarat Aalam Butt under the state’s stringent Public Safety Act (PSA).
Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar quashed Mr Butt’s PSA detention, while disposing off a petition filed on behalf of the separatist leader, his counsel Mian Abdul Qayoom said.
Butt, who was arrested in April this year following the waving of Pakistan’s national flag and chanting of anti-India slogans at a rally in which he took part, is unlikely to be released from Kot Balwal jail near Jammu. Police sources said that there are a few other cases registered against him under various provisions of law at different police stations in the Valley.
Earlier on August 21, Justice Hasnain Masoodi of the J&K high court had quashed his detention and ordered his immediate release but the state authorities slapped the PSA afresh on him. Recently, his detention under the PSA was ordered for the 31st time.
Under the PSA, a person can be detained for up to two years without a trial being initiated. However, such detentions are subject to periodical review by an official screening committee and can also be challenged in a court of law.
Butt was arrested by the police on April 17 after the waving of Pakistani flags at a rally of Mr Geelani of which he was a part. Amid the uproar, the Centre had asked the J&K government to take “immediate and stringent” action against Mr Butt.
