Former Chief Minister and National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah on Sunday said that he and his family including his father and Member of Parliament Farooq Abdullah had been “locked up in our homes with no explanation”. However, police said the movement of protected persons was “discouraged” on Sunday due to adverse inputs on the second anniversary of the 2019 Pulwama attack.
“This is the ‘naya/new J&K’ after Aug 2019. We get locked up in our homes with no explanation. It’s bad enough they’ve locked my father (a sitting MP) & me in our home, they’ve locked my sister & her kids in their home as well,” Omar wrote on Twitter. Omar questioned the explanation by the police and posted photographs showing police vehicles outside the gates of his residence in Gupkar. He alleged that his “house staff” was not being let inside.
“Chalo, your new model of democracy means that we are kept in our homes without explanation but on top of that the staff that works in the house aren’t being allowed in and then you are surprised that I’m still angry & bitter,” he said in another tweet.
Soon after Omar made the allegations, Srinagar Police took to Twitter saying that the restrictions were because of the “adverse inputs” on the 2nd anniversary of the February 14, 2019 Pulwama attack in which at least 40 CRPF personnel were killed.
“Today is 2nd Anniversary of dreaded Lethpora Terror incident. There shall be NO ROP on ground. Due to adverse inputs, movement of VIPs/Protected Persons has been discouraged and all concerned were informed in advance NOT to plan a tour today,” Police said in a Tweet.
However, the former Chief Minister retorted: “I’m not even sure if this is actually a police Twitter handle since it’s not verified but assuming it is – please tell me under which law you have detained me in my home today? You can advise me not to leave my house but you can’t force me to stay in using security as an excuse,” he wrote while sharing the Srinagar Police’s explanation.
“Please share the written communication address to me & acknowledged by me (or my office) informing us in advance of these restrictions (sic). Surely this anniversary didn’t come as a surprise to the administration,” Omar added.
Pertinently, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti too had on Saturday claimed that she was placed under house arrest ahead of her visit to the family of Athar Mushtaq, one of the three alleged militants killed in an encounter in Parimpora locality here in December last.
“Placed under house arrest as usual for trying to visit the family of Athar Mushtaq killed allegedly in a fake encounter. His father was booked under UAPA for demanding his dead body. This normalcy GOI wants to showcase to the EU delegation visiting Kashmir (sic),” Mehbooba had said on Twitter.