Former J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has reportedly been arrested. As per NDTV, Mufti has been taken to a government guest house in Srinagar.
Journalist Aatish Taseer, in a tweet, quoted Mufti as saying, “How far will the mighty Indian establishment go to muzzle the voice of dissent? Not being satisfied with my house arrest, I am now being arrested and taken away. This won’t deter me. You can jail us but not our ideas & opinions.”
@MehboobaMufti has been taken from her house. “How far will the mighty Indian establishment go to muzzle the voice of dissent? Not being satisfied with my house arrest, I am now being being arrested & taken away. This won’t deter me. You can jail us but not our ideas & opinions.” pic.twitter.com/S1ur4nxdtk
— Aatish Taseer (@AatishTaseer) August 5, 2019
Taseer also tweeted a photo of an order of the Office of the Executive Magistrate 1st Class of Srinagar that states:
“Whereas, situation has arisen in Kashmir that appears to me that there are most likely strong apprehensions of law and order situation and breach of peace and tranquillity in Kashmir.
Whereas, your activities are also likely to cause breach of peace keeping into consideration your recent activities that may likely lead to serious law and order situation and breach of peace and tranquillity in Kashmir.
Whereas, it has also appeared to me you and your number of activists/persons associated with you are about to meet and proceed in procession in public because of which there are also most likely strong apprehension of deteriorating law and order in Kashmir.
Whereas, keeping into consideration present situation in Kashmir and strong apprehensions of breach of peace and tranquillity it has become imperative to take such necessary measures for preventing deteriorating and escalating further any law and order situation in Kashmir. Therefore keeping into consideration aforementioned facts and circumstances I as Executive Magistrate of 1st Class do hereby immediately order your detention for preventing law and order situation and further as a preventive measure you be shifted to Hari Niwas Place till further orders.”
The arrest comes a day after she, along with Omar Abdullah and Sajjad Ghani Lone, was put under house arrest. Mufti has been highly vocal on Twitter following the Centre’s move to amend Article 370 and the “reorganisation” of Jammu and Kashmir.
She called August 5 “the darkest day in Indian democracy”, and added, “The decision of J&K leadership to reject two-nation theory in 1947 and align with India has backfired. Unilateral decision of GOI to scrap Article 370 is illegal and unconstitutional, which will make India an occupational force in J&K.”
She also said, “It will have catastrophic consequences for the subcontinent. GOIs intentions are clear. They want the territory of J&K by terrorising its people. India has failed Kashmir in keeping its promises.”
The Quint reported that Omar Abdullah too has been arrested. As per a PTI report, Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference leaders Sajjad Lone and Imran Ansari have also been arrested.
#JustIn: J&K People’s Conference leaders Sajjad Lone, Imran Ansari arrested: Officials — PTI
— The Hindu (@the_hindu) August 5, 2019
(This is a breaking story and will be updated soon.)