Published 16:49 IST, October 5th 2019
NC delegation to meet Farooq and Omar Abdullah in Srinagar on Sunday
Jammu-Kashmir government, on Saturday, has allowed a delegation of National Conference from Jammu to meet party president Farooq Abdullah and VP Omar Abdullah
In a major relief to the detained Kashmiri leaders, the Jammu-Kashmir government, on Saturday, has allowed a delegation of National Conference from Jammu to meet party president Farooq Abdullah and Vice President Omar Abdullah, according to ANI. The party's spokesperson- Madan Mantoo stated that the delegation headed by provincial president Devender Singh Rana and other former party legislators will leave from Jammu on Sunday morning. This development comes two days after Advisor to Jammu-Kashmir Governor, Farooq Khan had stated that detained leaders will be released from detention in a phased manner. He added that they will be released after individual analysis of each of them.
NC delegation to meet Abdullahs
Detained Kashmir leaders to be released
Farooq Khan did not state when the leaders will be released from detention. Former Chief Ministers Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah are detained in government guest houses near the Raj Bhavan in Srinagar since August 5. Meanwhile, NC president Farooq Abdullah has been detained in his own residence. The leaders have been under detention since Parliament abrogated Article 370, ending Jammu-Kashmir's special status.
Jammu leaders released from detention
Earlier on Tuesday, ahead of Block Development Council elections, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has decided to end the house arrest of all the political leaders in Jammu, sources said. After the abrogation of Article 370, all leaders of Congress, PDP, National Conference, and Panther's Party had been asked not to hold any political activity. On Tuesday, J&K administration informed them that their house detention has ended and they are free to carry out any political activity, the sources added. Polls for Block Development Councils (BDC) in the 310 blocks of Jammu and Kashmir will be on October 24.
Current situation of Kashmir
Meanwhile, the Centre has stated that the situation in Kashmir is slowly being restored back to normalcy. Sources report that in Anantnag there has been almost 50% vehicular movement as per usual. Sources also report that 10-20% of the shops in the district have been opened. While traffic has been seen increasing in the Valley, public transport is still not functional, as informed by authorities. While landline connections have been restored completely, internet and cell connections too have been restored to most parts of the Valley, according to Kashmir administration, while economic activity too has picked up, as stated by authorities. Schools have also opened in the Valley and attendance has been gradually rising. The state administration has been giving regular reports about medical facilities functional in the Valley.
Updated 17:11 IST, October 5th 2019