Put under house arrest: Mehbooba Mufti prevented from meeting family of slain youth alleges PDP

The People's Democratic Party of Kashmir claimed today that leader Mehbooba Mufti had been placed under house arrest at her residence in Srinagar as she tried to make her way to meet the family of Shahid Aijaz Rather who was killed in the crossfire between Indian military and LeT militants last week.

Police had locked the gate of the house in Gupkar and stationed a vehicle outside to monitor the residence, the PDP alleged. Police officials told the media that Mehbooba would not be allowed to visit the slain youth's family in Anantnagar as there were security risks. The PDP claimed that Mufti had not been allowed to meet police officer Parvez Ahmad's family after his death at the hands of militants either.

Shahid's death was the result of crossfire exchanged between CRPF and militants in the Shopian district of Kashmir that occured on October 24, military sources had declared. The death, which occured during Home Minister Amit Shah's first formal visit to the UT, drew criticism from parties including the PDP. Mehbooba Mufti had claimed that Shahid's death was only a sign of the 'impunity' with which the Indian military operated in Kashmir.

The 20-year old has been identified as a daily wage labourer and was shot dead outside the CRPF 178 battalion camp in Shopian. The military version of events has been disputed by his family and Mufti had called for compensation to be issued to his surviving relatives.

Yesterday, the former Chief Minister had strongly criticised The Central government for arresting medical students celebrating Pakistan's win in the World Cup.

"Not too long ago when you (PM) presided over an all-party meeting in Delhi, you expressed your intention to remove dill ke doori (distance between hearts) between Delhi and J&K. I suggested a few Confidence Building Measures. We had been waiting for the roll out of a policy to address the hearts and minds of people, especially youth. While the spree of raids, arrests, killings continue unabated, the level of repression and state intolerance has touched a new low," the letter written by Mufti to Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.