Seeks Compassionate Measures Ahead of Amarnath Yatra
KD NEWS SERVICE
SRINAGAR, May 6: In a strongly worded letter addressed to the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has called for an immediate halt to what she described as a “sweeping and indiscriminate crackdown” by security agencies following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam.
The letter, dated May 6, 2025, comes in the wake of a tragic and cowardly terror attack in Pahalgam that shocked the nation and led to widespread condemnation. Mehbooba highlighted the unified and spontaneous response of local Kashmiris who defied terrorism by standing in solidarity with the rest of the country, even observing a complete shutdown and taking to the streets in protest.
“For the first time, Kashmiris openly defied terrorism and stood united with the nation during this critical time,” Mehbooba wrote. She commended the role of ordinary Kashmiris who rushed to aid the victims, transported the injured to hospitals, and donated blood selflessly.
However, the former chief minister expressed deep concern over the aftermath, accusing security agencies of turning their response into an act of mass retribution rather than a focused investigation. She noted that over 3,000 arrests and nearly 100 Public Safety Act (PSA) detentions have been reported, calling these figures “alarming” and reflective not of justice, but of “a collective form of punishment.”
“This approach not only risks alienating families and communities but also begs the question: where will all this lead us to?” Mehbooba asked, stressing that while justice must be served, the current response appears to be punitive and counterproductive.
Mehbooba further argued that no democratic and responsible society can accept the wholesale criminalization of its people, asserting that the goodwill shown by Kashmiris must be reciprocated by the rest of the nation. She warned against allowing the actions of a few terrorists to shape the state’s response and to justify what she described as a spree of arrests of innocent civilians.
With the annual Shri Amarnath Yatra fast approaching, the PDP chief urged LG Sinha to intervene urgently and bring an end to what she termed as a “policy of arrests and punitive measures.” She appealed for the release of innocent detainees, stating that the people of Kashmir must be allowed to breathe freely and prepare to welcome the Yatris with the warmth and hospitality they are known for.
Mehbooba concluded her letter hoping for a “positive and compassionate response,” and also sent a copy of the letter to Omar Abdullah, chief minister Jammu and Kashmir.
