Srinagar
Two days after former chief minister and PDP President Mehbooba Mufti was shifted to a government bungalow near Banquet Hall from a government hut at Cheshma Shahi, the authorities now shifted political detenues to MLA Hostel from Centaur Hotel, where they were undergoing detention since August 5 after the Centre abrogated special status granted to the Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the Constitution.
Official sources said that all the political dentenues from shifted from the Centaur hotel in view of harsh winter.On aught
“The accommodation where they were lodged in since August 5 was not equipped for Kashmir’s harsh winters,” sources said.
The harsh winter chill was taking a toll on the health of the detenues. During the winter, the temperature in Kashmir dips below the freezing point.
The administration carried out required modification of rooms in the MLA Hostel on Maulana Azad Road, in the heart of the city, to accommodate the political prisoners. It has been declared as a subsidiary jail by an order of the Jammu and Kashmir Home Department.
Among the political prisoners are Sajjad Lone of the People’s Conference (PC), Ali Mohammad Sagar of the National Conference (NC), Naem Akhtar of the PDP and former IAS officer Shah Faesal.
Earlier on Friday, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti was shifted to a government accommodation in the city from a tourist hut located at the foothills of Zaberwan range.
However, Omar Abdullah has not been shifted yet from Hari Niwas Palace. Dr Farooq Abdullah, who has been booked under public safety act (PSA) has been detained at his Gupkar residence, which has been declared as sub-jail.
