All 34 detained leaders shifted to MLA Hostel in Srinagar

Srinagar: All 34 detained politicians in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5 have been shifted to a new location because of the harsh winter.

As Srinagar reeled under harsh winter conditions, the Jammu and Kashmir administration on Sunday shifted all political prisoners to the MLA Hostel as the facility lacked proper heating arrangements, officials said.

The winter chill took a toll on the health of the detenues – National Conference, PDP, and People's Conference leaders and prominent social activists – and the security personnel guarding them.

The administration carried out the required modification of rooms in the MLA Hostel on Maulana Azad Road in the heart of the city to accommodate the political prisoners. It has been declared as a subsidiary jail by an order of the J-K home department.

Among the political prisoners are Sajjad Lone of People's Conference (PC), Ali Mohammad Sagar of National Conference (NC), Naeem Akhtar of the PDP and former IAS officer Shah Faesal. See P5