Mehbooba Mufti re-elected PDP president
Srinagar, Feb 22: Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti was on Monday unanimously re-elected as president of the PDP for a three-year term.
Mufti's name was proposed by senior leader Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura and seconded by Khurshid Alam, a party spokesperson said after the election.
Senior PDP leader Abdul Rehman Veeri was the chairman of party election board, he said.
The spokesperson said the party's electoral college in Jammu had earlier unanimously re-elected Mufti as party chief.
Senior leader Surinder Chaudhary was the returning officer for the election. Talking to reporters, Mufti said Jammu and Kashmir was going through tough times and that she will continue to lead the PDP on the mission for which it was established.
"The PDP was established for raising the voice of the people and problems they face. We will continue to do that," she said.
In response to a question, the PDP president said, "If they (police) think that I should be arrested for fighting for peoples' rights, let them do their duty. I will continue to do my work."
Asked about restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, Mufti said, "It is not for me to decide. The Centre has to restore it."
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was formed in 1998 by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed as a regional alternative to the National Conference.
The party grew from strength to strength during the last two decades with many political stalwarts joining it. Several technocrats and bureaucrats, after retiring from service, also joined the PDP over the years.
However, the party was on the verge of split after the PDP-BJP coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir fell in June 2018.
While Mufti has managed to retain the grip over the party, most of the prominent leaders including some founding members have left over the last two years.
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15 arrested in Mangaluru mob lynching case; Over 25 suspects believed involved
Mangaluru: The Mangaluru Rural Police have arrested 15 individuals in connection with the alleged mob lynching of an unidentified man near Bhatra Kallurti Temple in Kudupu on April 27. The case, which initially began as an investigation into an unnatural death, has now developed into a murder probe involving charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
Based on a complaint filed by Deepak Kumar (33), a resident of Kulasekhara, Mangaluru, police registered Crime No. 37/2025 at the Mangaluru Rural Police Station against 19 named individuals. Sections invoked include 103(2), 115(2), 189(2), 190, 191(1), 191(3), and 240 of the BNS, 2023. Investigators suspect the involvement of over 25 persons in total, and efforts are underway to apprehend the remaining accused.
The arrests follow intensive investigation, including the collection of CCTV footage from the vicinity, analysis of mobile tower data, and witness interrogation. The deceased, whose identity is yet to be confirmed, was found near the temple premises around 5:30 PM on April 27. Initial observations revealed no major external injuries, prompting authorities to seek a post-mortem examination at Wenlock District Hospital.
The preliminary autopsy report submitted on April 28 cited internal bleeding and shock due to multiple blows to the back as the cause of death. Lack of timely medical intervention was also noted as a contributing factor.
Police have established that the man was brutally assaulted around 3:00 PM during a cricket match near the temple grounds. He was allegedly attacked with sticks, fists, and kicks by a group of individuals. Despite attempts by bystanders to intervene, the assault continued until the victim collapsed.
The arrested individuals are as follows:
Sachin T (26), son of Late Taranath, Nadumane House, Thiruvail Village
Devadas (50), son of Late Lingappa Poojary, Nadumane, Thiruvail Village
Manjunath (32), son of Mallikarjun, Mangala Nagar
Saideep (29), son of Harish, Subramanya Nagar, Neermarga
Nitesh Kumar @ Santosh (33), son of Late Vishwanath, Mangala Nagar
Dheekshith Kumar (32), son of Vishwanath, Kudupu Katte
Sandeep (23), son of Basavarajappa Haveri, Vamanjoor
Vivian Alvares (41), son of Vijay Alvares, Protasaf Colony
Sridatta (32), son of Late Ananth, Kudupukatte
Rahul (23), son of Ramesh, Bejai
Pradeep Kumar (35), son of Mohan Das, Jyothi Nagar
Manish Shetty (21), son of Satish Shetty, Padavu Village
Dhanush (31), son of Late Sadashiva, Kudupukatte
Dheekshith (27), son of Devappa, Kulasekhara
Kishore Kumar (37), son of Subrahmanya Acharya, Kudupu
