32 political leaders to be shifted to MLAs hostel
Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Nov 15: Former Chief Minister and president of People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mehbooba Mufti, was today shifted to Maulana Azad Road bungalow from Cheshmashahi hut where she was under detention since August this year. And 32 political leaders who are under detention at Centaur hotel are being shifted to MLAs hostel Maulana Azad Road in a couple of days.
Mehbooba along with around 150 mainstream political leaders and workers were arrested in August this year ahead of abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A of Indian Constitution that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir and division of the State into two Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh.
She was first to put under house arrest at Fair View, Gupkar at her official residence and later shifted to nearby Hari Niwas and then to Cheshmashahi hut. There was no heating arrangement at Cheshmashahi hut and due to onset of early winter and last week’s heavy snowfall she was shifted out of the hut this afternoon.
Sources said that Mehbooba was informed this morning that she has to be shifted out from Cheshmashahi but she told jailers that let it be in the afternoon. When they came again in the afternoon to shift her, she asked for the Government order under which she was to be shifted out”, they said.
Later the order from the District Magistrate Srinagar was served to her and it was shown to Mehbooba who was later shifted to Bungalow No. 6 at Maulana Azad Road, Srinagar.
The Special Services Group (SSG) of Jammu and Kashmir Police and police personnel from security wing were deployed at the Bungalow and arrangements have been made for their stay. The Bungalow is highly guarded and has heating arrangement unlike that of Cheshmashahi hut.
However, former Chief Minister and vice president of National Conference (NC) Omar Abdullah may be kept at Hari Niwas where there is proper heating arrangement.
And 32 political leaders of NC, PDP and People’s Conference who are under detention in Centaur hotel on the banks of Dal lake are being shifted to MLA hostel at the MA Road, Srinagar in a couple of days. The leaders including General Secretary of NC, Ali Mohammad Sagar, chairman of Peoples Conference, Sajjad Lone and senior leader of PDP Naeem Akhtar.
The administration was contemplating to shift 32 political leaders there after they received a bill for over Rs 3 crore for their stay in the hotel. Government was looking for alternate detention centre for them. Since MLAs hostel was occupied by the former legislators from Jammu province and some Corporators, they were looking for other options. However, they have now evicted former legislators and Coporators from MLAs hostel as it is cheap and secure.
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