‘Stopped from visiting family of teen killed in Srinagar encounter’

SRINAGAR : People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday alleged that she was placed under house arrest and deterred from visiting the family of Athar Mushtaq, who was killed in a controversial encounter on December 30, 2020.

“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, the normalcy GOI wants to showcase to the EU delegation visiting Kashmir,” she said in a tweet.

Teenager Athar Mushtaq of Pulwama was killed along with two others — Ajaz Maqbool, 22, of Pulwama and Zubair Ahmad, 24, of Shopian — in a controversial encounter with the security forces on December 30 at Lawaypora, Srinagar. While the security forces said the trio was affiliated with militants and was given a chance to surrender, their families said they were innocent.

“This reign of suppression and terror in Kashmir is the unvarnished and unpalatable truth that GOI wants to hide from the rest of the country. A 16-year-old is killed and then hurriedly buried denying his family the right and chance to perform his last rites,” Mufti

{ MEHBOOBA MUFTI } PDP PRESIDENT

GOI wants to hide this reign of terror and suppression in Kashmir from of the country.

said. She also released a 2:06 minute video in which she was apparently not being allowed to move out of her Gupkar Road residence in Srinagar while an official from the administration was citing “security issues” as the reason.

“What is the problem today? What is the reason that I am being stopped,” Mufti enquired from the official in the video.

“Security problem, ma’am,” the official, who introduced himself as tehsildar (south), responded.

“What security problem…I tried to go to Pulwama where there is sand mafia I was not allowed, then I was not allowed to go to Budgam and today I am again being stopped from going there (Pulwama),” she said further questioning as to why she was being treated like a criminal.

When asked, Kashmir security wing SSP Imtiyaz Hussain Mir said the SSG (special security group) was responsible for Mufti’s security, not the security wing. However, SP Srinagar SSG unit could not be reached till the filing of this report.

Meanwhile, Mufti said if the administration was not able to provide security to residents here, how come they would be able to secure foreign dignitaries.

“A European Union delegation is also coming. How will you secure them when you can’t provide security to people living here,” she asked.

There are reports that a foreign delegation will be visiting Jammu and Kashmir from February 16.

Officials are yet to confirm the development.