Srinagar: Hilal Lone, son of National Conference (NC) Member of Parliament (MP) Akbar Lone, was on Monday booked under Public Safety Act (PSA), official sources said here.
With this, seven mainstream political leaders, including three former chief ministers, have been booked under PSA since abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35 A, besides bifurcation of the state into two Union Territories (UTs) on August 5.
They said Hilal, who was under preventive detention since August 5, was served a dossier informing him that he has been booked under PSA. “The dossier read that the Union Territory administration felt that his release could hamper the law and order situation in north Kashmir, they said.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti and National Conference (NC) Vice President Abdullah were on February 6 booked under the PSA – a stringent law that allows detention without trial for up to three months and multiple extensions. Two more leaders, NC General Secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar and PDP leader Sartaj Madna were also charged under PSA. The order came on the last day of their six-month detention without charges.
On Saturday, senior Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader and chief spokesperson in PDP-BJP coalition government Naeem Akhtar was also booked under PSA and lodged in a hut on Gupkar road.
NC president and MP from Srinagar Farooq Abdullah, who was in September last year slapped with PSA, remained under detention at his Srinagar residence.
Hundreds of people, including politicians, activists, separatists and business association leaders, were detained to ‘maintain law and order’ after centre abrogated special status of the state.
Peoples Conference (PC) chairman Sajjad Gani Lone, who was a minister in PDP-BJP coalition government from Saffron party quota was released from Sub jail and later put under house arrest on February 5.
The authorities have been releasing politicians in phased manner. However, sources said that the politicians before release have to give undertaking assuring authorities that they would not indulge in any activity that will hamper law and order.
