“Jail was not a new experience”: Sajad Lone released

Nearly after a year under detention, People’s Conference chairman Sajad Ahmad Lone was released on Friday afternoon. “Finally [five] days short of a year I have been officially informed that I am a free man,” he said. “So much has changed.”

Taking to Twitter, Mr. Lone said: “… so much has changed. So have I. Jail was not a new experience. Earlier ones were harsh with usual doses of physical torture. But this was psychologically draining. Much to share hopefully soon.”

Mr. Lone, who was also a part of the Gupkar Declaration, was arrested on 5 August last year and lodged at Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) hostel for six months before being shifted to Chruch Lane, where he was put under strict house detention.

On 5 August 2019, the Government of India had revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and clamped down in the region. It had detained all prominent unionist leaders.