Security Forces Harassing Common People Ever Since Poonch Attack, Says PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti

Mehbooba Mufti further alleged that young people are being arrested, tortured and questioned ahead of the G20 events Srinagar.

PDP President Mehbooba Mufti addresses a press conference at party headquarters, in Srinagar, Saturday.

Source : PTI

New Delhi: People's Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti targeted the Centre over the Poonch attack and said ever since the five Army jawans were killed, the security forces have started “harassing” common people of the region, news agency PTI reported.

Speaking at the party headquarters in Srinagar on Saturday, she said, “After the unfortunate incident in Pooch, the security forces have started harassing common people of the region.”

“Like (former J-K governor) Satya Pal Malik said that he was asked to remain silent when the Pulwama attack took place in 2019, 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 forces. We want the investigation to take place so that the truth comes out,” she added.

The PDP chief further alleged that ever since the attack, the situation is Poonch is such that “oppression is going on there, people are being arrested, tortured and questioned.”

Taking a further dig at the Centre, she said, “People of Rajouri-Poonch are most peaceful. They have never supported guns. Are you deliberately trying to force them to choose a path, the consequences of which, will be bad for us?”

The former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir further alleged that young people are being arrested, tortured and questioned ahead of the G20 events Srinagar.

“Since the process of holding the G20 event has started, the arrest, torture and questioning of youngsters has also begun. People are being called to police stations. Hundreds of youth from south Kashmir have been put in jails. There is no hearing. The situation in J-K is worse than Guantanamo Bay. Let them hold G-20 event, but why are the youth being arrested,” Mehbooba Mufti said.

It is to be noted that Srinagar city is likely to host one of the G20 events in May this year.