Sainik colony Issue: Separatists SAS Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq released
Srinagar: Separatists leaders SAS Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq who were arrested ahead of their meeting on the Sainik colony issue, have now been released. Whereas, Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Chief,Mohammad Yasin Malik who was also arrested for the same issue is still in custody.
Ever since, the proposal for separate Sainik colonies has come to the fore, the valley had witnessed raging protests, pertaining to the matter. Incidentally, Yasin was also arrested in Srinagar last week and released on bail in a 29-year-old case on June 11.
Both factions of the Hurriyat Conference and the pro-independence Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front have earlier too launched protests against the government's decision to set up these colonies.
Hizbul Mujahideen's commander Burhan Muzaffar Wani had earlier released a video warning attack on such colonies if they are set up in the Valley. The video was reportedly directed at the J&K Police warning them of further attacks.
Notably, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah had last week sparred in J&K Assembly over the issue of setting up of Sainik Colony in the Valley. Mehbooba made a statement in the Assembly that the government had not identified any land for setting up a Sainik Colony in Kashmir. “Even if any such colony is set up, it would be only for retired soldiers who are permanent residents of the state as provided under the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir”, she added.
