J&K: Centre’s Paranoia About G20 has Unleashed Bigger Demons, Says Mehbooba Mufti

Srinagar: The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday accused the authorities for violating people’s privacy in Jammu and Kashmir ahead of the G20 summit meeting being hosted from May 22-24.

“Right before G20 in Kashmir, security forces are breaking into homes, ransacking and violating the privacy of people here. As if the existing repression in Kashmir wasn’t enough, GOIs paranoia about G20 has unleashed bigger demons. Even women are not being spared,” the former Chief Minister tweeted.

Mufti raised the issue after Sehar Shabir, daughter of separatist leader Shabir Shah, shared her experience on Twitter accusing the police and security forces of ransacking her home during a purported raid.

Shah’s daughter also shared pictures and videos claiming that men in uniform “damaged” her home in what she termed was a “massive devastating raid”.

“My mother accompanying half of them while they searched the top level of the house and rest were checking the ground floor and other rooms. They destroyed the drawing room's furnishings and scattered objects all over,” she tweeted.

The police, however, refuted the claims made by Shah’s daughter and Mufti, claiming that it was part of a search operation carried in 20 houses following the inputs of movement of militants in the locality. 

“This has nothing to do with G-20 but is routine in case of inputs. No harassment, harm 

whatsoever was caused during this search and all SOPs were followed,” the police said in a statement. 

The authorities have heightened security measures ahead of the G20 meeting to be hosted in the region next week. Many, however, have alleged that the administration has launched a massive crackdown leading to arbitrary arrests. Some have argued that the fresh wave of clampdown will worsen the situation.

“There are reports about arbitrary detentions of youth from several parts of the Valley. The move will further widen the yawning chasm between youth and the administration. The govt instead should review the cases of youth held in jails outside J&K under PSA and ensure their release,” M Y Tarigami of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) tweeted.

Earlier this week, UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues, Fernand de Varennes, had raised similar concerns over the hosting of the grand event in Kashmir that he said was being misrepresented as a normal venue by the government. The Centre had, however, termed his concerns as “baseless”.

India assumed the presidency of G20 last December and is hosting delegates from 19 nations and the European Union. More than 100 delegates are expected to visit Srinagar for the Tourism Working Group related meetings next week.

Meanwhile, the special forces of the Indian Navy Marine Commandos (MARCOS) carried out patrolling of the Dal Lake in Srinagar close to the venue whilst the NSG commandos patrolled the commercial hub of Lal Chowk as part of the stringent security measures ahead of the global event.