The District Magistrate was immediately approached to issue order for his detention under the Public Safety Act (PSA). But, unlike the past, the case kept hanging with the latter for about two months.

In the meantime, the accused approached the court and got orders for his release from police custody. Later, the District Magistrate issued the detention order against the accused but, by then, he had gone underground.

This is not an isolated incident. Instead of promptly issuing detention orders under PSA like the past, the District Magistrates at many places in the State reportedly take about two to four months to act.

Official sources attributed the change in the attitude of bureaucracy to the sharp increase in number of allegations of human rightsviolations by militant sympathisers after the restoration of popular government in the State. Besides, the kin of various ruling National Conference leaders also have links with militants in one form or the other.

With many in the ruling National Conference alleging excesses by the security forces and even the State Police, the PSA detention of many a persons charged with involvement in militant activities have been revoked by the State government on one pretext or the other. Some of the detained persons belong to the ruling National Conference.

Substantiating, sources said Abdul Rashid of Budh Ki Kinari (Rajouri) was detained under PSA for his alleged involvement in militancy some months ago. But as his case was sent to the Home Department's advisory board for confirmation, it revoked the detention order on technical grounds much to the surprise of the State Police.

Even Shabnam, who was detained under PSA on charge of recruiting local youth and sending them across the border for arms training duringthe Governor's rule, was released from jail after the restoration of popular rule in the State. Shabnam is, at present, block president of the ruling National Conference in Surankote (Poonch), sources added.

Similarly, PSA detention of Billoo - a National Conference worker in Kalakote area, was also revoked by the Home Department recently. Billoo, a notorious character, was arrested by the police after he raped a three-year-old girl in the area.

Referring to the alleged militant links of some National Conference leaders, sources said 13 Gharwal troops recently recovered a Universal Machine Gun and a Rocket Launcher buried in the premises of Ali Mohammad Sheikh, a close relation of the State Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah. On instructions of the Chief Minister, a case on the complaint of troops was registered against Ali Mohammad Sheikh and his son, Zaman Ali, at the Soura Police Station.

Ali Mohammad Sheikh, however, has denied the charge and expressed ignorance about the recovery of weapons fromhis premises.

The son of a ruling National Conference MLC (a member of the Upper House of State Legislature) from Darhal, Sadiq Malik, was detained under the Public Safety Act in the Jammu Central Jail.

The ruling National Conference general secretary, Sheikh Nazir, reiterated his party's resolve to fight against all those involved in militancy in the State. However, about the question of the alleged involvement of the kin of a number of party leaders into the militancy, he said that there must be some conclusive evidence against them for action.