Srinagar: Asserting that sudden heightened security and surveillance in the valley ahead of August 5 has nothing to do with COVID-19 pandemic, Iltija Mufti, daughter of former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, said that ‘it is clearly being done to ensure that anger and frustration felt by people in Kashmir remain hidden’.
“Suddenly, there is heightened security & surveillance in the valley. Not like non discriminatory COVID virus will be more active in the days approaching 5th August so clearly this is being done to ensure that anger & frustration felt by people here remain hidden,” Miss Mufti, who is handling the official twitter handle of her mother since the PDP president was detained on August 5, wrote.
The centre on August 5 abrogated Article 370 and Article 35 A, besides bifurcated J&K into two Union Territories. Ms Mehbooba, former chief ministers Omar Abdullah and Farooq Abdullah, besides dozens of mainstream leaders, including ex-ministers, were detained on August 5, 2019.
Dr Farooq, who is MP from Srinagar, was released in March after remaining under detention for about seven months. Days later, Omar Abdullah was also released after about eight month detention. Other leaders were also released though they alleged that they have been placed under house arrest.
However, Mehbooba Mufti was on April shifted from a Srinagar sub-jail to her official residence, where she was detained under PSA. The act against other political leaders was also revoked and they were released though they remained under house arrest.
Ms Mehbooba is the only mainstream politicians in the valley who remained booked under PSA.
UNI ABS
