108 foreigners arrested for militancy, 27 await deportation

Srinagar, Aug 24 (PTI) As many as 108 foreign
nationals, including nine Afghans and a Saudi, were among
2,449 people arrested in connection with militancy in Jammu
and Kashmir till August this year.

"At present 2449 persons are lodged in different jails
within as well as outside the state till August. Of these 2384
persons are in various jails in the state whereas 65 are
lodged in jails located outside the state," the state assembly
was informed.

Chief Minister of India's northern state of Jammu and
Kashmir Omar Abdullah, who holds the Home portfolio, in a
written reply said that there were 108 foreign nationals
including nine Afghans, a Bangladeshi and a Saudi detained in
different jails within and outside the state.

Twenty-seven of them have either completed their
sentence or have been acquitted and also recommended for
deportation, he said adding 30 others including the Saudi
national are facing trial for crossing illegally into the
state.

Some foreign nationals detained under the Public Safety
Act are lodged in jails outside the state, the Assembly was
informed.

"Under the orders of the Supreme court, many of the
cases against these foreign nationals, mostly Pakistanis, have
been transferred to courts outside the state for speedy
trial," he added.

The government said any convict who completes his term
of punishment is released from jail.

However, there are 15 local persons whose detention
orders under PSA have been quashed by the courts, but are
still in jail, it said adding "these persons have been
arrested in militancy-related cases under substantive law".

"No bail has been granted to them by the concerned
courts and they are facing trial," it said. PTI AMS
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