J&K police contradicts Omar Abdullah’s claims of house arrest

The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister also posted photographs showing police vehicles outside the gates of his residence

The former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir and regional National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah Sunday claimed that he and his family, including his father and MM Farooq Abdullah, have been put under house arrest by authorities.

J&K Police, however, countered his claims saying that “movement of VIPs and Protected Persons has been discouraged” due to the anniversary of the 2019 Pulwama terror attack in which 40 paramilitary CRPF personnel were killed.

“This is the “naya/new J&K” after Aug 2019. We get locked up in our homes with no explanation. It’s bad enough they’ve locked my father (a sitting MP) & me in our home, they’ve locked my sister & her kids in their home as well (sic),” Omar wrote on Twitter, sharing pictures of armoured police vehicles outside his Gupkar residence.

In another tweet, he said: “Chalo, your new model of democracy means that we are kept in our homes without explanation but on top of that the staff that works in the house aren’t being allowed in and then you are surprised that I’m still angry & bitter.”

Read: 4G internet in J&K: Omar says better late than never

In response to the NC leader’s tweets, Srinagar police wrote: “Today is 2nd Anniversary of dreaded Lethpora Terror incident. There shall be NO ROP on ground. Due to adverse inputs, movement of VIPs/Protected Persons has been discouraged and all concerned were informed in advance NOT to plan a tour today. @OmarAbdullah.”

Omar shot back and asked the police to share the written communication about his detention with him. “Please share the written communication address to me & acknowledged by me (or my office) informing us in advance of these restrictions. Surely this anniversary didn’t come as a surprise to the administration,” he tweeted.

In response to Omar’s assertions, J&K police released two official documents to counter his claims on preventing his movement. “With reference to your communication regarding the visit of ex CM J&K Sh Omar Abdullah, no VIP movement is to be allowed tomorrow (February 14) in view of an imminent IED threat….,” SSP Police Control Room (PCR) in a signal message wrote to SSP security and Deputy Director Special Security Group, Srinagar.

On Saturday, PDP president and another former CM Mehbooba Mufti had also claimed that she was placed under house arrest ahead of her visit to the family of Athar Mushtaq, one of the three alleged militants killed in an encounter in Hokersar locality on outskirts of Srinagar city in December last year.