Srinagar, Dec 14: The state Government on Tuesday booked Hurriyat Conference (G) leader and one of the architects of “Quit Jammu and Kashmir Movement,” Masrat Alam, under Public Safety Act.
Sources told Greater Kashmir that police today executed the PSA warrant and shifted him to Kotbalwal jail, Jammu. Senior Superintendent of Police, Srinagar, Ashiq Hussain Bukhari confirmed the detention of Alam under the PSA.
“The PSA warrant issued against him was executed,” District Magistrate Srinagar, Mehraj Ahmed Kakroo told Greater Kashmir.
On June 25, Alam as chairman of Muslim League and general secretary of Hurriyat (G) launched the ‘Quit Jammu and Kashmir Movement’ when Hurriyat (G) chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani was under arrest, by issuing first protest calendar.
During this period, he went underground and issued handouts and released video statements for four months, urging people to take the movement to its logical conclusion.
Alam was reportedly carrying a reward of Rs 5 lakh on his head and police finally managed to arrest him during a raid at his maternal uncle’s residence at Wagund Tailbal on October 18. After arrest, Alam was kept in Special Operation Group headquarters- cargo- here.
Alam had been released in May 2010 after two years of detention.
Alumni of Tyndale Biscoe School, Masrat hails from Zaindar Mohalla area in old city. After pursuing his graduation in Science from SP College, he subsequently joined the political movement in 1987. He participated in rallies of the Muslim United Front which contested the 1987 elections and then became the commander of militant outfit Hizbullah in ’90s.
Alam came into limelight during 2008 agitation for coining the “Ragda” slogan.
Sources said another Hurrriyat (G) activist Abdul Hamid Magray has also been booked under PSA.

JK TURNED INTO POLICE STATE: GEELANI
The chairman of Hurriyat Conference (G) Syed Ali Shah Geelani on Tuesday strongly condemned booking of Masrat Alam under the Public Safety Act.
In a statement, Geelani while condemning booking of Alam and Abdul Majeed Magray under PSA and subsequent shifting to Kot Balwal and Udhampur jails respectively in Jammu, accused the Government of turning Jammu and Kashmir into a Police State.
“The Government has decided not to allow any peaceful political activities. On one hand the authorities have not released the detained leaders and on the other the arrest spree continues in the Valley. The arrest of Raja Begum of Model Town Sopur is a sheer act of hooliganism. Despite being in custody for past many days, the police has not provide the ground of detention to her family. This is a grave rights violation and can’t be justified at any cost. The Police which are entrusted to protect the life and property of the civilians have become their enemy,” Geelani said.
Geelani demanded immediate release of all the arrested pro-freedom leaders and supporters including Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai, Aasiya Andrabi, Peer Saifullah, General Mossa, Mian Abdul Qayoom, G N Shaheen.
“Unless all the political prisoners are released, the peace process can’t be started. New Delhi is not serious to resolve the Kashmir dispute and wants Kashmiris to surrender at gunpoint. The Indian leadership should not treat the Kashmir dispute at par with Punjab, Tripura or Assam. I want to maintain that Kashmir is an international issue and it can’t be resolved through occupation by troopers but granting right to self-determination to Kashmiris,” Geelani said.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 14 Dec 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 14 Dec 2010 18:30:00 GMT
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