SRINAGAR: Authorities have finally set free Sajad Lone, the Peoples Conference president. He was arrested on the eve of August 5, 2019. Early this year he was shifted to his official residence where he was kept under detention.
Interestingly, it was Sajad who announced his release personally using twitter almost a year after.
Finally 5 days short of a year I have been officially informed that I am a free man. So much has changed. So have I. Jail was not a new experience. Earlier ones were harsh with usual doses of physical torture. But this was psychologically draining. Much to share hopefully soon.
— Sajad Lone (@sajadlone) July 31, 2020
Sajad’s release came on the eve of Eid. It also coincided with the controversy over Prof Saifuddin Soz’s arrest that the government denied in the Supreme Court.
Good to hear that Sajad Lone has been released from illegal house arrest. I hope others under similar illegal detention will also be released without delay.
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) July 31, 2020
One of Lone’s party activists said he has been informed at his Church Lane jail that he is free. “He is still there and has not started for home,” he said. He said he will share more details as and when he meets his leader.
Mubarak! This was a jail term in which the trial begins only after release. Great pleasure to have remained together for a long time, enough to know each other better and appreciate that no two Kashmiris have now any reason to fight each other. For there are no prizes to win https://t.co/c7NyyKLJ5T
— Naeem Akhtar (@shangpal) July 31, 2020
Interestingly, the last tweet of Lone – who was a cabinet minister in BJPDP government, was on August 5. Almost a few days short of a year, he tweeted again.
Detained yet again. first detained in Delhi. Then in Sringar in 1990. Those detention centres were very harsh. Our workers r being sought by the police. My prayers with them. And hope they stay calm.
— Sajad Lone (@sajadlone) August 4, 2019
