PDP questions police case against Iltija Mufti, says she was manhandled
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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has questioned the police case against its leader Iltija Mufti over allegations that she assaulted police personnel during a protest marking the seventh anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370, claiming instead that she was manhandled by policemen and dragged for nearly half an hour as she attempted to make her way peacefully towards Lal Chowk.
According to the police, the confrontation occurred when PDP workers, led by former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti and her daughter Iltija, gathered at S.K. Park in Srinagar on August 4 to protest against the abrogation of Article 370 and attempted to proceed towards Lal Chowk.
Police further claimed that their repeated requests, such as not obstructing public traffic and maintaining public order, amid restrictions already in force, fell on deaf ears among some of the protesters, who allegedly refused to comply, leading to a scuffle in which police personnel were pushed and manhandled.
The police complaint, however, alleged that several officers were injured during the confrontation and were taken to hospital for medical examination and treatment, but made no mention of the number of injured personnel or the nature of their injuries in the FIR.
Rejecting the police version of events, the PDP maintained that Iltija was herself subjected to excessive force and was later admitted to a hospital in Srinagar, where she alleged that the police had manhandled her. Party workers released images showing bruises which they claimed had been caused by the police handling.
A PDP worker who said he witnessed the incident alleged that Iltija was dragged by police for almost 30 minutes while attempting to reach Lal Chowk. He further alleged that protesters who tried to approach her were pushed back, beaten and had their phones snatched.
The party has also questioned why male police officers were involved in restraining Iltija, arguing that the episode raises broader questions about the treatment of women and ordinary citizens by law-enforcement authorities.
An FIR registered at Kothibagh police station names both Mehbooba and Iltija Mufti as accused. It invokes Sections 132, 121 and 191(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, relating respectively to assault or criminal force against a public servant, voluntarily causing hurt to deter a public servant from performing official duties, and rioting.
Iltija has been summoned to appear before Kothibagh police station at 2 pm on Friday to join the investigation.
