PDP leader Iltija Mufti questioned by J&K Police; Mehbooba, Omar clash over protests

The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Friday questioned Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Iltija Mufti for about two hours at the Kothibagh Police Station in Srinagar, a day after an FIR was filed against her, her mother and party president Mehbooba Mufti, and the party in connection with street protests on August 4.

The protests were held to mark the seventh anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5. Article 370 had granted special autonomous status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. Its abrogation in 2019 led to the state being divided into two Union Territories – Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. The restoration of Article 370 and statehood remain key demands of several regional parties, including the PDP.

Iltija Mufti arrived at the police station at around 2 p.m. and was questioned on camera for two hours, police officials said. The FIR, registered on Thursday, August 6, includes charges under Section 132 (assault on a public servant), Section 121 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter a public servant from his duty), and Section 191(2) (political rallies and mob violence). The FIR names Mehbooba Mufti, Iltija Mufti and the PDP.

Addressing party workers at the PDP headquarters ahead of the questioning, Mehbooba Mufti alleged that the FIR was an attempt to “silence the party”. She claimed that a male constable was directed to drag her daughter, and asked whether it was appropriate for a policeman to touch a woman. “When a woman is held by her neck, what should she do?” she said.

Mehbooba Mufti also compared her party’s treatment with that of others. She noted that the BJP held a rally on August 5 and, in her words, “berated our women, but no FIR was lodged”. She added that the Congress, National Conference, and Apni Party also held protests without facing an FIR, because they limited their demands to statehood. “The PDP talked about Article 370 and resolution of the Kashmir issue. Article 370 is being criminalised. The fact is Article 370 remains in our hearts,” she said.

The PDP president said the police action was meant to “instill fear and stop people from raising the issue of Article 370”. She said if she or her daughter is jailed, “the mission of party founder Mufti Muhammad Sayeed must be taken forward”.

After her questioning, Iltija Mufti told reporters, “As an Indian citizen, I am entitled to protest peacefully and demand restoration of Article 370. What I am doing is not illegal or sedition. I will continue to fight for the rights of every resident of J&K. I am not an anti-national. The Constitution allows me to raise these issues.”

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, however, described the questioning as a “fixed match”. He said the PDP is a creation of intelligence agencies and that the party tries to restore its credibility whenever its image takes a hit. “Is Iltija Mufti a five-year-old child who is likely to bite? This is nothing but a fixed match and an attempt to divert attention from the Banta Hai comment by its leader,” Mr. Abdullah said.

Police officials have not made any public statement on the allegations made by the Mufti family. The case is under investigation.