Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Iltija Mufti, on Saturday, claimed that she and her mother, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and Mehbooba Mufti have been placed under house arrest to prevent them from visiting the families of two civilians involved in recent tragic incidents—one was allegedly shot by the Indian Army in Sopore, while the other died by suicide in Kathua following alleged police torture.
#WATCH | Srinagar, J&K | PDP leader Iltija Mufti said, "I want to ask the NC government why are you keeping your mouth shut? If they cannot provide us security then why have they come to power? When LG was in power, the situation was the same. Agencies used to detain and torture… pic.twitter.com/YG9oWKAYJ0
— ANI (@ANI) February 6, 2025
"My mother and I have been placed under house arrest. Our gates are locked because she was supposed to visit Sopore, where Waseem Mir was fatally shot by the Army. I intended to go to Kathua today to meet Makhan Din’s family, but I am not allowed to leave. Nothing has changed in Kashmir even after the elections. Now, comforting victims' families is being criminalised,” Iltija Mufti wrote on X.
The deaths of Mir and Din have ignited considerable outrage in Jammu and Kashmir. Waseem, a 27-year-old resident of Sopore in Baramulla, was shot on February 6 while driving a truck. The Army claims he was fired upon after he failed to stop at a checkpoint, though they have provided no evidence to substantiate this.
Makhan, a 26-year-old from Billawar in Kathua, died by suicide on February 7 after reportedly enduring torture in police custody. He and his father, Mureed, were detained on suspicions of militant links. Mureed alleges they were subjected to abuse and coerced into confessing to terrorism-related activities.
After their release, Makhan recorded a video swearing he had no ties to militants, but shortly thereafter, he consumed poison and died.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has condemned both incidents, warning that excessive force might alienate the local population and undermine peace efforts. He described the events as "highly unfortunate" and called for independent inquiries into both cases.
Mehbooba Mufti has characterised the incident in Kathua as part of a troubling "pattern of targeting innocent youth," alleging police fabrication of charges and torture.
In Kathua, MLA Dr Rameshwar Singh led protests demanding a judicial investigation, financial compensation, and a government job for Makhan's widow. "We won't stop protesting until our demands are met," Singh said.
The District Magistrate of Kathua ordered a magisterial inquiry, while the Jammu and Kashmir Police initiated a fact-finding investigation. However, police denied allegations of a crackdown or internet shutdown, which contradicts local reports.
