SRINAGAR: Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday strongly condemned the detention of her daughter and party leader Iltija Mufti by the Jammu and Kashmir Police, accusing the administration of criminalizing acts of solidarity with grieving families.
In a post on X, Mehbooba remarked, “Extending support to bereaved families has now been labeled a crime. This is evident from the recent actions of the police, who detained Iltija at Circuit House in Jammu, barring her from addressing a press briefing.”
Finally Iltija managed to reach Bilawer in Kathua to meet the bereaved family of Makhan Din, who was driven to suicide by police torture. It’s deeply saddening that she had to endure so many obstacles and travel like a fugitive just to offer comfort to the victim’s family. The… pic.twitter.com/KGBO2GIAZI
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) February 9, 2025
She further criticized the government’s stance on civil liberties, stating, “This blatant suppression of our fundamental rights exposes an unsettling pattern.
It seems that for the ruling party, democracy is merely about conducting elections and forming a government, while the essence of democratic freedoms is being trampled upon.”
Ironic and unfair that Iltija’s two PSOs have been suspended for no fault of their own. They were punished simply because Iltija managed to reach Kathua despite being confined to her home like a criminal. Meanwhile, there has been no reported action against those responsible for… pic.twitter.com/7ZbAIzHbpi
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) February 10, 2025
Highlighting what she termed a “selective approach” by the authorities, Mehbooba said, “It is deeply ironic that while a National Conference minister’s visit to Bilawar was facilitated by the police, Iltija is being penalized for attempting the same.”
On Saturday, Mehbooba Mufti and Iltija Mufti were placed under house arrest. While Mehbooba had planned to visit Sopore to console the family of truck driver Waseem Mir, who was fatally shot by security forces, Iltija was set to travel to Kathua to meet the relatives of Makhan Din, who allegedly took his own life after police torture.
Despite restrictions, Iltija Mufti managed to reach Bilawar in Kathua on Sunday, where she met the grieving family of Makhan Din.
However, after the visit, when she attempted to hold a press conference at Circuit House Jammu, authorities intervened, preventing her from speaking to the media and subsequently detaining her.
Detained at Circuit House Jammu now. All this because @JmuKmrPolice wanted me to cancel my press conference scheduled for 4 pm. This is Naya Kashmir and the true face of it. The elected government is too busy hosting a lunch in Delhi to care about victims of human rights… pic.twitter.com/jdA3FHtuyg
— Iltija Mufti (@IltijaMufti_) February 9, 2025
Expressing her outrage on X, Iltija wrote, “Now detained at Circuit House Jammu—all because @JmuKmrPolice wanted me to call off my 4 pm press conference.
This is the reality of ‘Naya Kashmir.’ The elected leadership is too occupied hosting luncheons in Delhi to acknowledge victims of human rights violations.”
On Monday morning, Mehbooba Mufti further lashed out at the government for suspending two security personnel assigned to Iltija. “It is both unjust and ironic that Iltija’s PSOs were suspended for no fault of theirs. Their only ‘crime’ was that Iltija managed to reach Kathua despite being treated like a detainee in her own home,” she wrote on X.
She also raised questions about the lack of accountability in recent deaths. “No action has been taken against those responsible for the deaths of Waseem Mir in Sopore or Makhan Din in Bilawar,” she noted.
Taking a swipe at the ruling National Conference government, Mehbooba accused them of failing to uphold their promises. “The NC government, which came to power on assurances of safeguarding people’s security and dignity, has chosen to remain a silent spectator. This silence not only reflects their apathy but also legitimizes these repressive measures,” she said.
