Srinagar: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti has been placed under house arrest till further orders.
The development comes hours after Mufti’s protest in Jammu against the killing of civilians by security forces on Wednesday.
The former CM demanded the officials to hand over the bodies of the dead to their families.
Earlier in the day, the Mufti strongly opposed the killings of civilians by the security forces and demanded handing over of the dead bodies to their families.
The former CM also claimed that the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) is in force in the Valley and thus there is no accountability for killings of innocents.
Four people, including two civilians, were killed in an encounter with security forces on Monday evening during an anti-militancy operation.
The Mufti, along with PDP workers and other leaders, staged a protest with placards that read: “Stop killing us, investigate the Hyderpora killings, end impunity and hand over bodies to families outside the party’s Gandhi Nagar headquarters.
Heavy police deployment was seen at the site of the protest, which prevented the protesters from moving towards the main road.
Talking to reporters, Mufti said that the families of the slain civilians are protesting in Srinagar and demanding the handing over of their bodies.
He said, “This cruel government is not even handing over dead bodies by killing people. They (BJP) want to convert this country of Gandhi, Nehru and Ambedkar into Godse’s country. What more can I say?”
Asked about the IGP’s claim of having digital evidence against those killed, he said: If they had prior evidence, why didn’t the police arrest them, as they have been doing on a daily basis.
Mufti is scheduled to return to Srinagar later in the day after completing her five-day visit to Jammu.
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