Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday alleged that the people of Poonch and Rajouri districts were being harassed and tortured by the security forces after the recent attack that left five soldiers dead.
She also demanded an in depth probe into the Poonch attack.
“Like Satya Pal Malik (former J&K governor) said that he was asked to remain silent when the Pulwama attack took place in 2019, so, it is hoped that the investigation agencies go deep to probe how the (Poonch) attack took place in such a secured area despite such a huge presence of Army,” the former chief minister said while addressing a press conference in Srinagar.
The PDP chief said that people of Poonch and Rajouri are most peaceful and have never supported guns.
“I want to ask the government, are you deliberately trying to force them to choose a path, the consequences of which will be bad for us?” she said.
Mufti said the attack on the Army was an unfortunate incident.
“ After the attack, there is oppression and people are arrested, tortured and questioned,” she said.
She demanded a probe into the death of Mukthar Shah after he consumed poison after being called by the police for questioning the case.
She said that Mukhtar Shah, a resident of Bataduria area of Poonch, was taken into police custody for questioning and then it was said that he committed suicide.
“His family is saying if he was in police or Army custody, how he could commit suicide?” she said.
“A purported video of Shah came out in which he says that he was fed up because his family, friends and villagers were harassed.. There should be an investigation ..,” Mufti said, adding there are two others who have been grievously injured because of sustained questioning.
Mufti said security forces have picked hundreds of local youth ahead of the G20 meeting being held in Srinagar next month.
She said hundreds of youth from south Kashmir have been put in jails due to the G 20 meeting.
“..The situation in J&K is worse than Guantanamo bay. Let them ( the government) do the G 20 event, but why are the youth being arrested?” she asked.
