Mehbooba Mufti’s Daughter Writes Letter To Home Minister Amit Shah

Former Chief Minister of J&K, Mehbooba Mufti’s daughter Iltija Mufti wrote to Home Minister Amit Shah on Independence Day. Her letter asked Shah about what law she was being detained under in her home. Iltija’s mother and People's Democratic Party leader, Mehbooba Mufti was put under house arrest a day after the announcement of abrogation of Article 370 and 35A in J&K and Ladakh along with other political leaders in the valley. On the same day, Iltija was also detained at the family’s Gupkar Road residence in Srinagar.

Iltija spoke to NDTV by exchanging voice notes a few days after the announcement took place. She found it “odd” that despite her non-affiliation with any political party, she has also been detained.

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“Unfortunately, for reasons best known to you, I also have been placed under detention at my residence. We are not even told when visitors are turned away from the gate and I am not allowed to step out either. Odd, since I am not affiliated to any political party and have always been a law-abiding citizen.

“I’d be most obliged If you could kindly throw light on the laws under which I’ve been detained and for how long? Do I need to seek legal recourse?” Iltija further asked in her letter.

However, the security personnel have cited my interviews to various media portals and newspapers as the reason for my detention. In fact, I’ve been threatened with dire consequences if I speak up again,” she stated in her letter.

“I’d be most obliged If you could kindly throw light on the laws under which I’ve been detained and for how long? Do I need to seek legal recourse?” Iltija further asked in her letter.

Earlier this week, former-civil-servant-turned-politician Shah Faesal was also detained at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport and sent back to Kashmir on Wednesday. He was reportedly taken to a makeshift detention centre at the Centaur Hotel in Srinagar on Thursday.

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As per the latest developments reported today, schools and government offices in Kashmir will re-open on Monday. The government has told the Supreme Court that it will revoke the communication clampdown with a few days in the valley. Kashmir Times Executive Editor Anuradha Bhasin recently filed a petition in the SC seeking directions for the immediate restoration of communication lines so that the media can function freely in the region.

“I have read in the media report that restrictions on landline and broadline are likely to be removed by the evening today,” Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi said.

“The absolute and complete Internet and telecommunication shutdown, severe restrictions on mobility and sweeping curtailment on information-sharing in Kashmir at a time when significant political and constitutional changes are being undertaken to the status of Jammu and Kashmir is fueling anxiety, panic, alarm, insecurity and fear among the residents of Kashmir,” the petition filed by Bhasin read.

“I have read in the media report that restrictions on landline and broadline are likely to be removed by the evening today,” Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi said. The Central government’s lawyer KK Venugopal informed the court that newspapers are being published in Jammu and not in Srinagar. The Home Ministry had said that the restrictions in Kashmir will be removed in a phased manner.

Picture credit: HS News