Won't allow BJP to turn J-K into theatre of war for electoral gains: Mehbooba Mufti
Srinagar, Mar 9: PDP president Mehbooba Mufti Saturday alleged that there were attempts to "intimidate" the people of Kashmir following the Pulwama terror strike, and said her party will not allow the BJP to turn Jammu and Kashmir into a "theatre of war for electoral gains".
At a meeting of PDP's top leadership here to discuss the prevailing political situation in Jammu and Kashmir, she also said banning Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) was "undemocratic, unconstitutional and an attempt to hurt the religious sentiments of Muslims" all across.
"Repressive measures and iron fist approach are being rigorously implemented with common masses threatened, intimated and harassed by the government at large.
"The PDP will remain in the forefront to oppose any such move. The policies being adopted by the central leadership towards the state are turning the already crisis-ridden region into a veritable inferno," Mufti said.
She also hit out at the BJP government at the Centre, saying, "Kashmiri students outside Jammu and Kashmir are being targeted, traders harassed all across and inside Kashmir, religious outfits are banned with clerics bundled in jails like criminals."
The Centre had on February 28 banned the Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) Jammu and Kashmir for five years under anti-terror law on grounds that it was "in close touch" with militant outfits and is expected to "escalate secessionist movement" in the state.
Mufti said, "We have been saying this since day one that JeI is an idea. Ideas cannot be chained, banned or killed. Ideas are bulletproof and in democracy, ideas are allowed to flourish and not choked. What the BJP is doing at present is nothing but a clear vendetta against anyone who dares to oppose its policies."
The PDP president claimed that JeI has been credited for running schools and is a socio-religious organization which is totally non-violent and has on many occasions publicly disapproved of violence as a method of political struggle.
"Banning it will further shrink the space for politics and dialogue and it seems that the Government of India is now completely depending on force as a measure to subjugate the people of state.
"However, it has to understand that no muscular policy will work as it has never worked in the past and it will never work in future also. The BJP's attempts to turn J-K into a theatre of war for electoral gains will be fervently opposed and foiled by the PDP," she said.
Mufti alleged that the Central government was pushing the people of Jammu and Kashmir to a corner and their constitutional rights were being "trampled upon".
"The need of the hour is that the Government of India stops this muscular policy and understands that dialogue is the only way forward," she said.
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Bengaluru: Four arrested for housebreaking, threats, extortion; fake PSI among accused
Bengaluru: Vidyaranyapura police have arrested four persons, including a man posing as a Police Sub-Inspector (PSI), for allegedly breaking into a house, threatening the occupants, and extorting money while wearing police uniforms.
The arrested accused have been identified as Mallikarjuna, Pramod, Vinay, and Hrithik.
Police said the accused had hatched a plan to pose as police personnel, conduct fake raids, and extort money from residents by intimidation.
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According to the police, Mallikarjuna had failed the PSI examination twice and later falsely projected himself as a PSI. He allegedly conducted photo shoots in his hometown, Siraguppa, wearing a police uniform, baton, cap, and shoes, claiming to be serving as a PSI in Bengaluru.
On December 7, the four accused allegedly went to the house of Naveen in the Vidyaranyapura limits, threatened him with a stick and an iron rod, and claimed they had information that he was selling ganja. Under the pretext of searching, they allegedly extorted ₹87,000 through bank transfer, ₹53,000 in cash kept in the house, and ₹2,000 from his wallet.
Following Naveen’s complaint, Vidyaranyapura police registered a case and launched an operation, leading to the arrest of all four accused. Police have seized ₹45,000 in cash and the car used to commit the crime.
Further investigation is underway.
