Key Takeaways
- The Supreme Court will announce the Article 370 verdict on Monday, potentially reshaping J&K’s legal framework.
- J&K officials, including Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha, categorically deny any house arrest of political leaders.
- Opposition parties PDP and National Conference claim their leaders Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah are under house detention, sparking political tension.
Srinagar: Ahead of the Supreme Court verdict on Article 370, two mainstream parties on Monday alleged that their chiefs have been put under “house detention”, an allegation denied by the government and police.
“I am stating this with full responsibility that nobody has been placed under house arrest nor has anyone been arrested due to political reasons in J&K,” Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said while terming the house detention as rumours.
Srinagar police too denied that any person has been put under house arrest.
Earlier, Peoples Democratic Party on Monday alleged that party president Mufti has been put under house detention.
“Even before Supreme Court judgement is pronounced, Police has sealed the doors of the residence of PDP President @MehboobaMufti and put her under illegal house arrest,” PDP posted on X. It also shared pictures of locked doors.
National Conference State Spokesperson Sarah Hayat Shah said party president Omar Abdullah has been “locked up in his house”.
“Mr @OmarAbdullah has been locked up in his house. Democracy?” she said in a post on X.
The Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice D. Y. Chandrachud will deliver the judgement on Monday on the validity or otherwise of the Union government action of August 5, 2019 when J&K’s constitutional provision was scrapped.
While Srinagar and other major towns remained calm, the government kept a strict vigil on the situation.
The police stepped up surveillance on social media, and several netizens were booked in recent days for their posts.
The authorities late Sunday evening deputed 29 civil officials as magistrates in the Srinagar city, following a communication received from Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Srinagar to keep any eye on the situation.
Officials said the movement of the security convoys has also been suspended.
