Farooq Abdullah's sister, daughter detained during Srinagar protests
On Tuesday, the police detained several women activists in Srinagar for protesting against the Centre's move to repeal Jammu and Kashmir's special status. Among the detained activists were former J&K Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah's sister, Suraiya Abdullah, his daughter Safia Abdullah Khan, and former J&K Chief Justice Bashir Ahmed Khan's wife, Hawa Bashir. Here are more details about what happened.
20 women activists gathered at Pratap Park to protest
On Tuesday afternoon, the 20-odd women activists gathered at Pratap Park near Srinagar's Lal Chowk, wearing black armbands and carrying placards that read 'Kashmiri brides not for sale', 'Why downgrade Jammu and Kashmir state'. They said, "We the women of Kashmir disapprove of the unilateral decision taken by Government of India to revoke Article 370 and 35A and downgrade the status of J&K."
'Government is telling the world we're happy; we're not happy'
Notably, Hawa Bashir, who is an academician, said, "The Government of India is telling the world that we are happy, somebody should speak to us to find out how we are feeling, we aren't happy, there are restrictions in Kashmir, we are highlighting those issues."
Protestors demanded release of detainees, demilitarization, restoration of civil liberties
Stating their demands, the women protestors said, "We feel betrayed, humiliated and violated as people. We demand the restoration of civil liberties and fundamental rights of civilians. We demand demilitarization of rural and urban areas." They further said, "We demand the immediate release of detainees. We express outrage against national media for their false and misleading coverage of ground realities in Kashmir."
CRPF personnel rounded up protestors in police vans
Meanwhile, the police did not allow the protestors to assemble, asking them to disperse peacefully, PTI reported. However, the protestors reportedly refused to disperse and staged a sit-in protest which is when Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel rounded them up into police vans. The police also tried to stop the activists from releasing a statement to the press.
Itlija Mufti: How many more voices will you smother?
Further, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti's daughter, Iltija Mufti reacted to the detention of women activists and tweeted from her mother's handle, "Curfew can be placed on a city but certainty not on feelings & thoughts. How many more voices will you smother?"
You can check the tweet here
Restrictions imposed in J&K since August 5
To recall, since the repeal of J&K's special status on August 5 and the state's bifurcation into two Union Territories, the Centre has imposed massive restrictions, evacuating tourists, deploying troops, snapping communication lines, arresting political leaders, etc. The communications blockade has slowly been eased and postpaid mobile services were restored in Kashmir. However, SMS services were again stopped as a "precautionary measure."
Farooq Abdullah detained under Public Safety Act
It should also be noted that Farooq Abdullah, his son Omar Abdullah and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti are among the political leaders detained. Farooq Abdullah has been detained at his Gupkar Road residence under the Public Safety Act, which allows the government to detain a person without trial for up to two years. Omar Abdullah and Mufti are detained in Hari Niwas.
