Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti, Peoples' Conference leader Sajjad Lone, and Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq claimed they were placed under house arrest in Srinagar on Thursday. The alleged restrictions prevented them from traveling to Sopore to pay their respects following the death of former Hurriyat Conference chairman Abdul Gani Bhat, who passed away on Wednesday evening after a prolonged illness.

Mehbooba Mufti took to X to slam the authorities, stating, "The decision to place the political leadership under house arrest today, simply to stop us from visiting Sopore to offer condolences, exposes the undemocratic reality in Jammu and Kashmir." She connected the clampdown to rising tensions, citing a September 5 incident at Hazratbal Shrine, where a plaque with the Ashoka emblem was vandalized. The act triggered accusations against Waqf Board chairperson Darakshan Andrabi for disrespecting religious sentiments, prompting demands for her removal and legal action.

"The anger at Hazratbal was a clear signal from a people pushed to their limits," Mufti said, accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of exploiting unrest for political gain. "Their refusal to address the anguish in Kashmir is dangerous and fuels further instability."

Also Read: Mehbooba Mufti Raises Alarm Over Unused Flood Funds in J&K

Sajjad Lone, Handwara MLA, expressed dismay at being barred from visiting Bhat’s ancestral village, Botingoo. "Professor Ghani sahib was a pacifist, long retired. Why deny us a final goodbye?" he questioned on X, calling the restrictions unnecessary and insensitive.

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who shared a 35-year bond with Bhat, claimed he was confined to his home since Wednesday night. "Forcing the family to rush his janazah and denying us the right to join his final journey is an unbearable cruelty," he wrote on X, lamenting the loss of a mentor and friend.

The house arrests have intensified scrutiny of the administration’s tactics in Jammu and Kashmir, with critics arguing they suppress dissent and deepen alienation. The Hazratbal controversy has already heightened public frustration, and this latest incident risks further eroding trust. As the region grapples with grief and political tensions, the silence from authorities on these allegations only amplifies calls for accountability and justice.

Also Read: Maharashtra Allopathic Doctors Protest Homeopath Registration With MMC