Kashmir advised to challenge Masrat Alam's bail

The union home ministry on Thursday advised the Jammu and Kashmir government to challenge all bail orders granted by different courts to recently released separatist leader Masrat Alam.

An advisory issued by the ministry to the state government read: "All 27 criminal cases registered against Masrat Alam Bhat will be pursued vigorously and steps also taken as per law to challenge the orders pertaining to grant of bail to him in such cases.

"A close surveillance must be ensured on such of the activities of Masrat Alam Bhat and his 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."

The advisory also said that "anything coming to adverse notice must be promptly reviewed in the light of the Public Safety Act (PSA) and appropriate action taken immediately".

The state government should ensure that the surveillance and monitoring of activities of the leader, his associates and followers is done "in close tandem with the central government security and intelligence agencies in the larger interest of maintaining peace and public order and normalcy", it said.

Masrat Alam was released on March 7 by the state government triggering a huge controversy between the ruling alliance partners, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Peoples Democratic Party, in the state.

Although the state home department clarified that Masrat Alam's release had been processed during the governor's rule and that no further separatists would be released unless in compliance to court directions, the controversy still continues to make tense the relationship between the coalition partners