Srinagar, June 07: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today said that police would not re-arrest detenues who have been released by courts earlier. "I assure that police will not re-arrest those persons who have been released by courts. We should respect the law", Sayeed told the state assembly here. Stating that the release of political prisoners was being politicised he said, "If those who picked up the gun realise that they had committed a mistake and were repenting it, we will surely release them". Commenting on the opposition charge that innocent detenues were languishing in jails as the state government had made itself subservient to the Centre on the issue, the Chief Minister said, "The aim of the state and Centre was to bring peace and stability to Jammu and Kashmir and all efforts would be made in this direction".

"A Joint Screening Committee (JSC) is in place to review the cases of detenues and those who were not involved in any heinous crimes would be released", he said.


Giving details of the detenues, Sayeed said 567 persons were detained under Public Safety Act (PSA) and another 379 persons were under trial.

Earlier replying to a question state minister for Parliamentary affairs Abdul Rehman Veeri said no political activist has been jailed for expressing his views which were within the ambit of the constitution.

"However, appropriate action under the relevant sections of law is taken against any individual, for "any speech which is unlawful and against the interests of the state", he said.

Bureau Report