Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir):Several People's Democratic leaders and activists have been detained or placed under house arrest ahead of the party's proposed protest program against Israel's bombing and “aggression” against Gaza, a party spokesperson said on Tuesday. The PDP spokesperson said that the party had a protest program today in Budgam and Kangardbal districts against Israel's “aggression against Palestine, but the police have detained many of our leaders and workers and kept them under house arrest”.
He said that the party's senior vice-president Abdul Rahman Veri, general secretary Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura have been kept under house arrest by the police. The spokesperson said that the police has detained the party president of Budgam district, Muhammad Yasin Bhatt, on Monday night and has detained him in Chadura police station.
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District Gandarbal party president Zahoor Ahmed and other workers have been detained too, added the PDP spokesperson. The spokesperson said that the PDP district presidents of Srinagar and Baramulla, Abdul Qayyum Bhat, Jalaluddin Shah have also been kept under house arrest by the police. The spokesperson told ETV Bharat that the party had planned protests today in Budgam and Ganderbal districts against Israel's bombing and “aggression on civilians in Gaza, due to which the administration has cracked down on our leaders so that the party does not take out protests”.
It may be recalled that the PDP led by Mehbooba Mufti protested against Israel in Srinagar last week. However, the police had then also foiled the protest. It should be noted that the administration banned the congregational prayers for last two Fridays at the historic Jamia Masjid in Srinagar in order to nip the possible anti-Israel protests in the bud.
Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has also been placed under house arrest for the past two Fridays and prevented from addressing Friday prayers at the Jamia Masjid. Protests against Israel were held in Budgam district last Friday, but the administration imposed restrictions on the protests. A senior official of the administration said on condition of anonymity that it will not allow any political party or “anti-social elements in the valley to disturb the peaceful environment nor will allow any political party try to incite people to protest”.
