People's Conference president and former minister Sajjad Gani Lone and PDP leader Wahid Para were released on Wednesday. Both leaders were in custody for more than six months. Now 13 leaders are locked in MLA hostels.

On the other hand, PDP leader Abdul Qayyum Wani, who was lodged in Srinagar Central Jail late evening, was also released. Three former Chief Ministers NC chief Dr F Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah and PDP supremo Mehbooba Mufti are still in custody.

It is believed that these leaders can also be released by the end of this week as part of confidence restoration. Farooq was detained on 17 September under PSA. The PSA was later extended for three months on 16 December.

Lone was a minister from the BJP quota in the BJP-PDP government. Prior to the removal of Article 370, he has played the role of a troubleshooter for the BJP in Kashmir on several occasions. Wahid is a close associate of former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. Eight leaders have been released since Sunday.