Jammu and Kashmir Admin Lifts Mirwaiz's Illegal House Arrest Context

On 5 Aug 2019, the Central government abrogated Article 370 and 35A, and reduced Jammu and Kashmir into a union territory. It placed Kashmir’s top cleric and head of All Parties Hurriyat Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, under house arrest. Last week, upon the cleric challenging the orders in the High Court and the court asking the administration for a response, his house arrest was lifted. This decision to free Mirwaiz is the central government’s goodwill gesture towards the Kashmiri people. This development must be seen in light of the Supreme Court hearings on the abrogation of Articles and restoration of statehood. The court had asked the government when they would conduct elections in the region. Four years back, the government that promised to stamp out militancy did not have a good report card. Recent encounters with insurgents have ended in the death of two senior Army officers and one senior police officer. This is similar to how in Panjab the central government has created more issues and solved none.