Army raids house of youth PDP president, others in Pulwama

SRINAGAR:ARMY raided the house of Peoples Democratic Party’s youth president Waheed Para in Naira village of Pulwama district in the wee hours on Wednesday.

Para, who lives in a high security zone at Gupkar, was not present at his home at the time of raid. He was informed by his family that army had surrounded their house along with two neighbouring houses with bullet proof vehicles.

It has been learnt that the youth PDP leader has taken up the issue with top police and army officials.

Interestingly, the army had not informed the police about the raid and it was the youth wing president who conveyed the police about the incident. “My family called me at around 1am and told that our house was surrounded by army vehicles along with two other houses. I took up the matter with top officials of army and police,” Para told Hindustan Times.

“Army searched all the rooms of the house and left only after an hour when the police arrived. However, after searching the house they couldn’t find any thing,” the PDP leader claimed.

A senior army official said it was a random search operation in the village. “We carried searches respectfully and left the village.”

However, villagers said it was a specific raid aimed at the house of the PDP leader. “It looked as if army was planning any operation in the area and house of the PDP leader was the target,” said one of Para’s neighbour.

Para is one of the top PDP leaders who was involved in youth activities as secretary of state sports council.

However, he resigned as the secretary of the council soon after Mehbooba Mufti submitted her resignation as the chief minister.

After losing power, Para is the senior most PDP leader whose house has been raided. He is considered close to former CM Mehbooba.