Srinagar, Aug 1: Charging her with an attempt to incite violence, police on Monday detained leader of opposition and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti, while she was heading towards Sopore to meet and offer condolences to the family of the youth allegedly killed in police custody.
The detention order issued by District Magistrate Srinagar was served to PDP president at 4:30 PM today after she was whisked away by the police from TRC Crossing here and detained at her official residence, official sources said.
“Whereas there is critical law and order problem in Sopore and your visit to that place may add to the breach of peace and public tranquillity. Hence restrictions are imposed on your movements under section 144 Cr PC till further orders,” the District Magistrate’s order states.
Authorities on Sunday had placed Mehbooba under house-arrest at her Gupkar residence in Srinagar to prevent her from proceeding towards Sopore to meet the family of Nazim Rashid who died in police custody Sunday.
According to PDP spokesman, Mehbooba was intercepted and detained by police near TRC crossing here when she tried to proceed towards Sopore on her return from Shopian where she had gone to attend the District Development Board meeting.
“On her return to Srinagar she tried to proceed to Sopore but was intercepted at Ram Munshi Bagh where the police forcibly stopped her from proceeding ahead. She managed to reach the TRC Square where she sat for Dharna for a while but was soon whisked away by the police and locked up at her residence, alongwith party leaders Syed Altaf Bukhari, Naeem Akhtar and youth leader Imran Ansari,” a PDP handout issued here this evening said.
“We cannot be silent spectators to the mis-governance and mal-administration and allow the people to suffer custodial deaths and excesses by the rogues in the forces. It is my duty to visit the family and know the facts about the death of Nazim. This undone task will be accomplished sooner or later. I will visit the family whenever good sense prevails upon Omar Abdullah and he lifts the ban on my movement. This is shameful act that even opposition leader is being placed under house arrest. NC led government has turned Kashmir into a garrison,” Mehbooba said.
She said anywhere in the country, where-ever there are reports of suffering or excesses against people, political leadership, be it Rahul Gandhi or anybody else, take it as their duty to reach-out to the victims. “But in Kashmir, NC has its own version of democracy. It is in fact tweetocracy and Police Raj. But I assure the people that I will continue my fight for their rights,” she said.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 1 Aug 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 1 Aug 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 2 Aug 2011 00:00:00 IST