J&K govt uneasy over Masarat's shift to valley

 Nearly two months after hardline Hurriyat leader Masarat Alam Bhat was arrested, Jammu and Kashmir government on Friday opposed his shifting from a Jammu jail to the valley.

"There are reasonable apprehensions that shifting of the petitioner (Bhat) to any jail in Kashmir province would have serious adverse impact on the ongoing efforts being made for the improvement in the overall security environment in the State, especially keeping in view the tourist season and upcoming Amarnathji Yatra," the state government said in a compliance report filed by the Home department.

The report said the "plea of the petitioner is found devoid of merits for various reasons, in <g data-gr-id="12">particular</g> the fragile law and order scenario and hence cannot be acceded to." 

The 45-year-old Bhat was arrested on April 17 from his home in Habbakadal area of Srinagar in connection with hoisting of Pakistani flags and raising of pro-Pakistan slogans during a rally <g data-gr-id="14">organsied</g> here to welcome Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani.