Opposition leaders locked up, internet and phones shut down, Kashmir valley in darkness.
Agencies
Srinagar, August 5:
Mehbooba Mufti, Omar Abdullah and Sajad Lone were among the several politicians in Jammu and Kashmir placed under house arrest on Sunday as authorities stepped up security at vital installations and in sensitive areas, suspended mobile internet services in parts of the state.
While there was no official confirmation of their arrest, Mufti and Abdullah tweeted about the development late Sunday night.
Jammu and Kashmir is currently under President’s rule. The state government said on Sunday it had imposed restrictions under Section 144 of the CrPC in Srinagar district with effect from Monday midnight as a precautionary measure until further notice. Officials also said restrictions on the movement of people would come into force in Kashmir Valley at the crack of dawn on Monday.
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What we know so far
— Mehbooba Mufti, Omar Abdullah, Sajad Lone have been placed under house arrest. Congress leader Usman Majid and CPI(M) MLA MY Tarigami also say they have been arrested.
— Mobile internet has been suspended in Kashmir Valley.
— Section 144 came into effect in Srinagar from the midnight of August 5 and will remain in force till further orders.
— The Indian government has “silenced all political groups, gagged media and scared civil society,” the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons said in a statement on Sunday.
— Hospitals are on alert, with staff told not to leave Srinagar without permission, officials told Reuters.
— Union home minister Amit Shah held a meeting with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Union home secretary Rajiv Gauba and other senior officials on Sunday. NDTV reports a Cabinet meeting is scheduled for Monday morning at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence.
— Troop deployment in the state has steadily increased over the last week but the home ministry refused to publicly comment on this. However, home ministry sources told various media publications on Friday that the deployment of paramilitary forces was based on the security situation there and requirements of rotation.
— Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik on Saturday conveyed to a National Conference delegation that the state has no knowledge of any changes in the Constitutional provisions and assured that the deployment of additional paramilitary forces was purely for security reasons.
— On Sunday night, the Tihar jail DG said Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik was absolutely fine and there was no reason for any worry about his health, hours after Malik’s wife Mushaal Hussein Malik said in a video message that his health was deteriorating and he needed urgent attention.
— On Friday, students at Srinagar’s National Institute of Technology told PTI that the management had said their classes were suspended till further notice.
— On the same day, a J&K government advisory asked Amarnath Yatra pilgrims and tourists to “curtail their stay” and “return as soon as possible”.
— On Thursday, a delegation of Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and a National Conference MP met Modi and urged him not to take any step which may lead to deterioration in the law and order situation in Jammu and Kashmir. They also urged the PM to facilitate holding of assembly elections in the state by the year-end.
