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JKLF leader Yasin Malik released

Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front Leader chairman Yasin Malik was released from Kot Balwal jail in Jammu on Monday and brought to Srinagar.

Malik, who suffers from heart ailment, has been released on parole initially for a period of one month.

Malik, who was lodged in Kot Balwal jail at Jammu under Public Safety Act after being bailed out under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, was taken to Jammu airport from the jail directly.

From airport, he was flown to Srinagar escorted by police officials. Malik was immediately shifted to the Joint Interrogation Centre immediately.

Jammu and Kashmir police arrested Malik under POTA following the recovery of US $100,000 from a former JKLF activist during the checking of vehicles near Batote on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway.

Malik was granted bail in July after a court was told that his health had deteriorated.

But within moments he was rearrested and booked under the PSA under which he could be detained for two years without trial.

A few more political detainees are likely to be released within a day or two, the sources said, adding, however, former Hurriyat chairman and fire-brand Jamaat-e-Islami leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani and People's League leader Sheikh Abdul Aziz do not figure on the list for time being.

JKLF spokesman Mohammad Ashraf welcoming the release of Malik said it was a "victory for democracy."

Malik is the third top militant to be released after the Mufti Mohammad Sayeed-led People's Democratic Party-Congress coalition assumed office.

Earlier, two JKLF 'commanders' Nazir Ahmed Sheikh and Showkat Ahmed Bakshi and top Hizbul Mujahideen militant Ayub Dar were released.

With inputs from Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar

Also See:
Complete coverage of the J&K election

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