New Delhi:
Amid the unprecedented turmoil in Kashmir, National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah, Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti and chairman of Peoples Conference Sajad Gani Lone along with several other maintream political leaders of Jammu and Kashmir were placed under house arrest on late Sunday night.
The authorities have ordered closure of schools and colleges in Jammu on Monday as precautionary measure and restrictions have also been imposed in Srinagar under Section 144 CrPC. Local cabel TV channels have also been shut across the Valley and internet services across senstitive areas will remain blocked untill further orders.
"There will be a complete bar on holding any kind of public meetings or rallies during the period of operation of this order. Identity cards of essential services officials will be treated as movement passes wherever required," the government said.
Just before being put under house arrest, the former BJP ally and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti tweeted that voices of people of Kashmir were being muzzled and the state is facing oppression of unimaginable magnitude.
"How ironic that elected representatives like us who fought for peace are under house arrest. The world watches as people & their voices are being muzzled in J&K. The same Kashmir that chose a secular democratic India is facing oppression of unimaginable magnitude. Wake up India," Mufti said.
Former chief minister and NC leader Abdullah also took to Twitter to announce that he was being put under house arrest. "I believe I'm being placed under house arrest from midnight tonight and the process has already started for other mainstream leaders. No way of knowing if this is true but if it is then I'll see all of you on the other side of whatever is in store. Allah save us," Abdullah tweeted.
The heaven on earth – Kashmir – has turned into a total mess with people living in fears and uncertainty following Centre’s sudden decision to move around 38,000 additional troops to the Valley. Following an unprecedented advisory asking tourists and Hindu pilgrims to “immediately” leave the Valley, rumours have triggering panic buying of essentials among locals.
Thousands of tourists from other parts of the country and world have left the Valley in the last three days. There are speculations that the Government of India was planning to abrogate the special status of Kashmir.
It all started with the two-day Kashmir visit of National Security Advisor Ajit Doval last month. As soon as Dhoval returned to Delhi, the Centre decided to move 10,000 troops of the paramilitary forces to Jammu and Kashmir. It was said that the decision to send additional troops was taken to strengthen anti-terrorist operations in the Valley.
