At least 13 women protesters, including National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah’s sister and daughter, were arrested on Tuesday, immediately after their bid to hold a “peaceful sit-in” against the Centre’s move to revoke Jammu & Kashmir’s semi-autonomous status and hive it into two Union Territories (UTs).
“Legal action has been initiated against them. They were produced before a magistrate, who sent them to the Central Jail,” Deputy Inspector General V.K. Birdi said.
Police sources said that the protesters were arrested for violating Section 144, barring assembly of more than four persons. The protesters were booked under Section 107 for “breaching the peace”.
ecurity personnel arrest a woman during protest against the abrogration of Article 370 and bifurcation of State on the 73rd day of strike, in Srinagar on Tuesday.
The all-women protest was the first attempt to oppose the Centre’s move since August 5. They assembled at the centrally located Sri Pratap Park in Srinagar’s Lal Chowk around noon.
The police, however, locked up the park and disallowed the women from holding any protest. They were bundled into a police vehicle.
“The peaceful sit-in protest was to seek answers for the humiliation inflicted on the people of J&K,” said Suraiya Abdullah Mattoo, sister of Dr. Abdullah, who remains in detention.
The former Chief Minister’s daughter Safiya Khan wore a black band and held a placard: ‘Why downgrade J&K state’. The other placards displayed included ‘Kashmiri bride not on sale’, ‘Resist to exist’, ‘Restore rights’ and ‘Don’t deceive Indians.’
“The government says ‘Kashmiri women are happy’. We are not happy. Ask us why we are not happy? Let’s have a discussion. We are being choked,” said Hawa Bashir, a retired academician, also wife of former judge Bashir Khan and sister of ex-member of parliament Shameem Ahmad Shameem.
Another protester, Muslim Jan, who works in Kashmir University, told The Hindu it was a peaceful attempt to register our protest. “When peaceful protests are not allowed, the government message is clear. It’s out to push people to the wall,” she said.
The Kashmir Valley observed a shutdown for the 72nd day on Tuesday. All shops were closed and public transport is off the roads. However, private vehicles, mostly used by government employees to reach their offices, were plying.
