Srinagar

Amid a coronavirus outbreak, Jammu and Kashmir administration has revoked the Public Safety Act detention orders of 17 more people lodged in various jails.

The orders for the revocation have been issued by the Jammu and Kashmir Home Department and there is a possibility the detainees would be released by this evening.

“Out the total whose PSA has been revoked, 11  are lodged in Kot Bhalwal Jail in Jammu, four in  District Jail Rajouri and two District Jail Kathua,” newspaper The Tribune quoted a senior Prison official as having said. ” They will be set free by this evening.”

In the wake of the pandemic, there has been a growing demand that the prisoners be released.  J&K has recorded so far two deaths from the deadly COVID-19 disease and 45 cases have been found positive that has created fear among the residents.

Earlier, authorities also revoked PSA against 14 persons who were lodged in Central Jail Srinagar.

They have been identified as Mudasir Fayaz Mir alias Aqib, Fayaz Ahmad Batkoo, Abid Hussain Sheikh, Parvaiz Ahmad Bhat, Ishfaq Ahmad Dar, Dawood Ahmad Khan, Junaid Ahmad Khan, Mehrajuddin Dentoo, Mohammad Musaib Kanwaloo, Mohammad Iqbal Gorsi, Shahid Farooq Sofi, Ghulam Mohiuddin Pandit, Nazaraf Hussain Khatana and Suheel Ahmad Shagoo.

Authorities also revoked PSA against former J&K chief minister Dr Farooq Abdullah on March 13 and that against his son and former CM Omar Abdullah on March 24. Both of these leaders were released from custody in the wake of the revocation.

However, there are presently over 380 people who are under detention in different jails across Jammu and Kashmir under PSA. They include J&K Bar Association President Mian Abdul Qayoom and Traders’ Association President Yaseen Khan among others.

Besides these, several political leaders, including former CM and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti, PDP leaders Naeem Akhtar, Sartaj Madni, Peer Mansoor, NC leaders Ali Mohammad Sagar and Hial Lone are still in detention. Former IAS officer and head of Jammu and Kashmir Peoples’ Movement, Dr Shah Faisal has also been held under the scope of the PSA.

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