Former IoK chief minister Farooq Abdullah detained for up to two years without trial

• Former CM has been detained under Public Safety Act.
• Indian SC seeks Centre's reply over detention of Abdullah.
• Abdullah had been under house arrest since August 5.

Former chief minister of Indian occupied Kashmir (IoK) Farooq Abdullah was detained on Monday under the Public Safety Act.

The law allows detention for up to two years without trial. The decision came on Sunday night ahead of Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) leader Vaiko's habeas corpus petition in the Indian Supreme Court, Indian media reported.

A habeas corpus petition is one filed under Article 32 of the Indian constitution through which the SC can order the authorities to produce people before it to verify if they have been detained as per the procedures established by the law.

On Monday, the SC issued notice to the Centre and the occupied Kashmir administration on a plea by Rajya Sabha MP and MDMK general secretary Vaiko seeking production of Abdullah. The court sought to know if Abdullah is under any kind of detention. "Union home minister said Abdullah was not under any kind of detention, but we don’t know his whereabouts," Vaiko’s counsel told the court.

The former CM had been under house arrest since August 5, when India abrogated Article 370 of the constitution that gave special powers to IoK.