PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti released after 14 months of detention

Former chief minister of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti

Former Chief Minister of united Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh and People Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti has been released from detention nearly after 14 months, said senior government spokesperson Rohit Kansal on October 13.

"Ms. Mehbooba Mufti being released @dipr," Kansal wrote on Twitter.

Ms. Mehbooba Mufti being released @dipr

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— Rohit Kansal (@kansalrohit69) October 13, 2020

Mehbooba Mufti detention case: SC asks J-K administration to respond to plea

Following the confirmation from Kansal, Mehbooba Mufti's daughter Iltija - who used to manage her social media profile - thanked the supporters.

As Ms Mufti’s illegal detention finally comes to an end, Id like to thank everybody who supported me in these tough times. I owe a debt of gratitude to you all. This is Iltija signing off. فی امان اﷲ May allah protect you

— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) October 13, 2020

Soon after the announcement of Mufti's release, National Conference vice president and former chief minister of the erstwhile state of J&K Omar Abdullah congratulated her.

I’m pleased to hear that @MehboobaMufti Sahiba has been released after more than a year in detention. Her continued detention was a travesty & was against the basic tenets of democracy. Welcome out Mehbooba.

— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) October 13, 2020

Prior to the release, the Supreme Court in September asked the Jammu and Kashmir administration to respond to Iltija Mufti’s amended plea challenging the detention of her mother under J-K Public Safety Act.

The apex court had also permitted Iltija and her brother to meet their mother in detention.

Among other leaders who shared their happiness on Mufti's release include Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad and Congress leader Sachin Pilot.

Thank God at last @MehboobaMufti has been released after more than15 months.This detention like that of Farooqsahib&@OmarAbdullah was unique one in our country,where the govt. ordered detention themselves don’t know reason and crime committed by these 3leaders.Jai ho democracy ki

— Ghulam Nabi Azad (@ghulamnazad) October 13, 2020

Happy to learn that Mehbooba Mufti ji’s detention has come to an end and she has been released.

— Sachin Pilot (@SachinPilot) October 13, 2020

On August 5, 2019, along with Mehbooba Mufti, hundreds of people and political leaders were taken into preventive custody hours ahead of the Centre revoking the special status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370.

The Centre on that day also bifurcated the state into the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

The PDP chief was slapped with the PSA on February 5, 2020. She was first kept for over eight months in detention at two government facilities designated as sub-jails and later shifted to her home on April 7 in partial relief.