OMAR CLAIMS HE, FAMILY PUT UNDER HOUSE ARREST, J&K POLICE CITE SECURITY REASONS

SRINAGAR: National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah on Sunday claimed he and his family, including his father and Member of Parliament Farooq Abdullah, have been put under house arrest by authorities.

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.

The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister also posted photographs showing police vehicles outside the gates of his residence in the Gupkar area of the city here.

Omar also 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 tweeted.

Responding to Omar’s tweets, police said the movement of protected persons and VIPS was “discouraged” due to adverse inputs on the second anniversary of the Pulwama attack.

“Today is 2nd Anniversary of dreaded Lethpora Terror incident. There shall be NO ROP on ground. Due to adverse inputs, movement of Vips/protectedpersons has been discouraged and all concerned were informed in advance NOT to plan a tour today (sic),” the Srinagar Police said on its official Twitter handle. However, Omar asked the police to “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 said.