Having released more than 4500 stone-pelters, the Jammu and Kashmir government is learnt to have also released some separatists, including the pro-Pakistan Asiya Andrabi, from jail.
Sources said the step has been taken to pave the way for the separatists to meet the Centre’s interlocutor Dineshwar Sharma, who was on his third visit to Kashmir earlier this week.
Sharma met Governor NN Vohra and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti here on Wednesday evening and briefed them about his meetings with various delegations in the valley.
Asiya Andrabi was arrested under the Public Safety Act (PSA) in May for her alleged pro-Pakistan activities. Her release on bail was ordered on Monday. Her secretary, Fahmeeda Sofi, was also released with her. Andrabi celebrates the Independence Day of Pakistan in Srinagar.
In a surprise move, the government allowed the J&K Liberation Front (JKLF) chief Yasin Malik to visit volatile Handwara where people were protesting against the killing of a terrorist in an encounter.
The NIA reportedly cancelled the summons to the son of the top separatist Syed Alishah Geelani without specifying any reason. He was summoned by the NIA that is probing Pakistani funding for terrorism in Kashmir.
Seven separatists and their supporters have been arrested by the NIA in this case.
Another top separatist, Shabbir Shah, is under the custody of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on charges of money laundering for alleged terror funding.
The separatists have been accusing the government of having put in jail several of their supporters on “fake” charges and are demanding their unconditional release.