Kashmir on edge: Security beefed up, many leaders 'detained or arrested'

The officials said former chief ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti would not be allowed to move out of their respective house in view of the restrictions.

Business Standard : Kashmir remained on edge as the authorities stepped up security at vital installations and in sensitive areas, suspended mobile internet services and either "arrested" or "detained" several leaders in fast-paced developments on Sunday night.

Officials said restrictions on movement of people would come into force in Kashmir Valley at the crack of dawn.'

The officials said former chief ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti would not be allowed to move out of their respective house in view of the restrictions, while Congress leader Usman Majid and CPI(M) MLA M Y Tarigami claimed to have been arrested around midnight.

However, no official confirmation of the arrests was immediately available.

"I believe I'm being placed under house arrest from midnight tonight & the process has already started for other mainstream leaders. No way of knowing if this is true but if it is then I'll see all of you on the other side of whatever is in store," National Conference leader Abdullah tweeted.

"To the people of Kashmir, we don't know what is in store for us but I am a firm believer that what ever Almighty Allah has planned it is always for the better, we may not see it now but we must never doubt his ways. Good luck to everyone, stay safe & above all PLEASE STAY CALM," he said in another tweet.

Reacting to the development, Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba said, "How ironic that elected representatives like us who fought for peace are under house arrest. The world watches as people & their voices are being muzzled in J&K. The same Kashmir that chose a secular democratic India is facing oppression of unimaginable magnitude. Wake up India."

Responding to Abdullah's tweet, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said, "You are not alone @OmarAbdullah. Every Indian democrat will stand with the decent mainstream leaders in Kashmir as you face up to whatever the government has in store for our country. Parliament is still in session & our voices will not be stilled."

"What is going on in J&K? Why would leaders be arrested overnight while having done no wrong? If Kashmiris are our citizens &their leaders our partners, surely the mainstream ones must be kept on board while we act against terrorists & separatists? If we alienate them, who's left?" he said in another tweet.

Why BJP ditched PDP? To gain lost ground before 2019, say political parties

BJP on Tuesday ended its alliance with the PDP in Jammu and Kashmir, forcing chief minister Mehbooba Mufti to resign.

BJP's decision to pull out of the ruling coalition with the PDP was seen by political parties in Jammu and Kashmir as an attempt to gain "lost ground" ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls as commoners attached their hopes with the governor's rule to restore peace and ensure the development of the state.



A group of Congress supporters burst crackers, distributed sweets and danced on a road in Jammu to express their joy over the sudden political development.



"BJP was feeling that the earth beneath its feet was fast skidding and hence pulled out of the PDP-led government with an eye on the upcoming parliamentary elections," National Panthers Party chairman and former minister Harsh Dev Singh said.



He said the people of the state, particularly in Jammu region which gave 25 Assembly seats and two parliamentary seats to the BJP, were very angry with the party over its "one after another surrender before the pro-separatist PDP agenda to remain in power".



He said the casualties suffered by border residents and security personnel in ceasefire violations in Jammu region were the highest in the past four years.



"It was a decision to benefit the party and not the people. They are trying to hoodwink commoners but the anger of people against the party has reached its peak and they will face the music and will be held accountable."



Singh said it would have been better had they pulled out of the coalition after the conclusion of the upcoming Amarnath Yatra.



"The yatra is going to start next week which is a major challenge given the prevailing law and order situation in the valley. Pulling out at this juncture makes it amply clear that they escaped without facing the challenge," he said.

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