Srinagar: Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti today strongly criticized the detention of Iltija Mufti by the Jammu and Kashmir Police, accusing the authorities of criminalizing the act of visiting victims’ families to offer condolences.
In a post on X Mehbooba said: “Visiting and offering solace to the families of victims has now been criminalized. This is evident from the latest actions of the police, who have detained Iltija at the Circuit House in Jammu, preventing her from addressing a press conference”.
“This blatant disregard for our democratic rights as free citizens highlights a disturbing trend. It appears that the ruling party’s understanding of democracy extends only as far as holding elections and forming a government, with little regard for the fundamental freedoms that underpin a true democracy,” she said on X.
“Very unfortunate and ironical that one NC minister’s visit to Bilawer was facilitated by police and Iltija is being punished for the same,” Mehbooba added on X.
Earlier Iltija met the family of a youth who recently committed suicide after alleged torture by police over his suspected links with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district, party leaders said.
This comes a day after Iltija claimed that she and her mother Mehbooba Mufti had been placed under house arrest.
Makhan Din (25), a Gujjar youth from Billawar area of Kathua, ended his life by consuming insecticide at his home on Tuesday evening and recorded the act on a video claiming innocence. He denied any connection with terrorists, prompting separate probes by the police and the local administration.
On Saturday, Iltija claimed in a social media post that she and her mother were under house arrest in Srinagar.
“I intended to visit Kathua to meet Makhan Din’s family and (I) am not being allowed to even move out. Nothing has changed in Kashmir even after elections. Now even comforting the families of victims is being criminalised,” she said on X.
“My mother and I both have been placed under house arrest. Our gates have been locked up because she (Mehbooba) was meant to visit Sopore where Waseem Mir (truck driver) was shot dead by the army,” Iltija said. (Agencies)
Iltija prevented from addressing presser in Jammu: Mehbooba
