Srinagar, July 31: People’s Conference chairman Sajjad Ahmad Lone was released on Friday after detention of almost one year.
He would be completing one year of detention on 5th August 2020, if his detention would have continued, however, his release came just 5 days before that.
According to news agency Sajjad took to microblogging social media site Twitter, to share the experience during his detention and about his release.
He wrote on Twitter, “… so much has changed. So have I. Jail was not a new experience. Earlier ones were harsh with usual doses of physical torture. But this was psychologically draining. Much to share hopefully soon.”
“Finally [five] days short of a year I have been officially informed that I am a free man,” he said. “So much has changed.”, Sajjad wrote.
Initially, he was lodged at MLA hostel Srinagar for six months but was later shifted to Church Lane guest house.
Sajjad Lone was among the scores of political leaders including three former Chief Ministers Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah, and Mehbooba Mufti, who were arrested on 5 August last year, when the central government went ahead with the scrapping of Article 370 and 35 A, granting special status to Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcated it into two Union Territories J&K and Ladakh.
Besides the top brass leadership from the erstwhile state, hundreds of political, social workers and from different walks of life were also detained in various jails and detention centers, within and outside Jammu and Kashmir.
Although the Abdullahs was released, a few months back, Mehbooba Mufti is still under house arrest at her residence in Gupkar.
Many persons detained on 5th August are still under detention and are yet to be released, some of whom have been detained under Public Safety Act (PSA), which gives the Government the power to hold a person without trial for six months.
