Kashmiri leadership placed under house arrest: Indian media

–Indian authorities detain former CMs Mehbooba Mufti, Omar Abdullah

Indian authorities on Sunday placed former Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) chief ministers Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah under house arrest hours after an all-party meet where the Kashmiri leadership criticised the recent deployment of 25,000 additional troops as well as a potential move to abrogate articles 370 and 35A, according to Indian media reports.

Article 35A of the Constitution empowers IOK’s legislature to define the state’s permanent residents and their special rights and privileges.

Earlier in the day, coming out of an all-party meet in IOK earlier in the day, Farooq Abdullah said that regional leaders would meet Indian President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to apprise them about the consequences of any attempt to abrogate Article 370 and Article 35A of the Constitution, or carry out delimitation of constituencies or trifurcating the state.

“It was unanimously decided that all the parties will be united in their resolve to protect and defend identity, autonomy and the special status of IOK and Ladakh, against all attacks, whatsoever,” Abdullah said.

The all-party meeting was followed by a candlelight march led by People’s Democratic Party leader Mehbooba Mufti, who demanded Centre’s action to quell the tension that has grasped IOK in the last few days. She also said that the special status assigned to IOK “is a matter of right and not a privilege”.

“I along with PDP party workers am holding a candlelight march from Gupkar Road to Lal Chowk tonight. Urgent need for GOI to allay fears in the Valley & reach out to people. J&K’s special identity is a matter of right & not privilege,” she said in a tweet.

The all-party meeting, that was previously scheduled at Mufti’s residence, was attended by Mehbooba Mufti, Sajad Lone, Shah Faesal among others.