We had earlier reported that there has been a massive crackdown on Jamaat-e-Islami leaders in Jammu and Kashmir. Security forces had reportedly carried out raids and arrested dozens of Jamat-e-Islami leaders from Srinagar and around. JKLF leader Yasin Malik has also been arrested. Former Chief Minister of the state, Mehbooba Mufti, has questioned the legal grounds for the arrest of the separatist leaders. She tweeted on Saturday, “Under what legal grounds are their arrests justified? You can imprison a person but not his ideas.”
In the past 24 hours, Hurriyat leaders & workers of Jamaat organisation have been arrested. Fail to understand such an arbitrary move which will only precipitate matters in J&K. Under what legal grounds are their arrests justified? You can imprison a person but not his ideas.
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) February 23, 2019
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, strongly condemned the arrests as well. He said on Twitter, “Such illegal and coercive measures against Kashmiri’s are futile and will not change realities on the ground. Force and intimidation will only worsen the situation.”
Strongly Condemn the nocturnal crackdown on Jamat e Islami leadership and cadres and the arrest of Yasin Malik. Such illegal and coercive measures against Kashmiri’s are futile and will not change realities on ground. Force and intimidation will only worsen the situation.
— Mirwaiz Umar Farooq (@MirwaizKashmir) February 23, 2019
Speculations have been running rife since last night. The Ministry of Home Affairs has also reportedly given orders for moving 100 additional companies of paramilitary forces into the Jammu and Kashmir. These include 45 companies of CRPF, 35 of BSF, 10 of SSB and 10 companies of ITPB. Pakistan, too, is apparently preparing for war.
