SRINAGAR, May 6: Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti has written to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, calling for an end to what she describes as “mass retribution” against innocent civilians in the aftermath of the recent terror attack in Pahalgam.
In her letter dated May 6, Mufti highlighted that while Kashmiris have shown unprecedented unity with the nation in condemning the “heinous act,” the security response has evolved into what she terms a “sweeping and indiscriminate crackdown” rather than a focused investigation.
“Over 3,000 arrests and nearly 100 Public Safety Act (PSA) detentions have been reported,” Mufti wrote, describing these numbers as “alarming” and representing “a collective form of punishment” rather than justice.
The former Chief Minister acknowledged the spontaneous response from local Kashmiris who assisted victims by transporting the injured to hospitals and donating blood, calling it a “significant and heartening shift” in the region’s dynamics.
With the annual Shri Amarnath Yatra approaching, Mufti urged the Lieutenant Governor to intervene urgently to “put an end to this policy of arrests, punitive measures and ensure release of innocents.” She emphasized the importance of allowing “the people of Kashmir to breathe easy and prepare to welcome the Yatris with the warmth and hospitality they are well recognized for.”
The letter was also copied to Omar Abdullah, the current Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir.
Neither the Lieutenant Governor’s office nor security agencies have issued any official response to Mufti’s letter at the time of reporting.
