J&K HC grants bail to separatist leader Masarat Alam

 The Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Tuesday granted bail to hardline separatist leader Masarat Alam, who was arrested in April this year for allegedly hoisting Pakistani flag and chanting anti-national slogans.

Alam was arrested on April 17 in connection with the raising of Pakistani flags and chanting of anti-national slogans during a rally organised by hardline Hurriyat Conference faction to welcome its leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani from New Delhi. Police had registered a case against several separatist leaders, including Alam and Hurriyat Conference hardline leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani for provocative activities including hoisting of Pakistani flag.

An FIR under section 13 of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and other relevant sections of the Ranbir Penal Code was registered in the Budgam police station against Alam and other separatist leaders. Alam was released in March this year, soon after the PDP-led government came to power, after over four years of detention in connection with the 2010 summer agitation in the Valley.