Masarat Alam rearrested day after HC quashed detention under PSA

Separatist leader Masarat Alam was today rearrested, a day after his release on a Jammu and Kashmir High Court order quashing his detention under the Public Safety Act (PSA).

Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh also said "Alam will not be released as he has several cases pending against him".

A senior J&K police officer told PTI: "He got released, technically, from the PSA and he gets arrested in the cases already registered against him. Naturally, he has been re-arrested in (connection with) the pending cases."

"He has several cases pending against him...He will continue to be under arrest...Though his (detention under) PSA has been quashed," the officer said.

Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court yesterday quashed the PSA detention of the 45-year-old separatist leader, Alam's counsel Mian Abdul Qayoom said.

Alam was arrested under PSA in April for allegedly hoisting Pakistani flag and chanting anti-India slogans during a rally organised by hardline Hurriyat Conference faction to welcome its leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani from New Delhi.

An FIR under Section 13 of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, relevant sections of Ranbir Penal Code was registered in Budgam police station against Alam and other separatist leaders.

Alam was released in March this year -- soon after the PDP-led government came to power -- after over four years of detention in connection with the 2010 summer agitation in the Valley.

Singh earlier today said that nobody will be allowed to disturb peace and tranquillity and resort to secessionist activities in the State.

He said, "He (Alam) will not be allowed to resort to secessionists activities. He is a person, who had been let off earlier also, but then we thought he is becoming challenge to the peace and tranquillity in Kashmir and was re-arrested."

"He is entering into treason so definitely he was arrested again. We will see to it what goes on. We have to think over it what course we have to take," he said.