Clarifying reasons for not allowing PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti to hold the youth convention of the party on Sunday at her government bunglow, the J&K Police said that permission for the rally was denied because of sensitivity of high-security Gupkar Road and Covid protocol.
A police spokesman said that a gathering of at least 1000 people was expected at the ‘Fairview’ that is the residence of Mehbooba.
Given the prevalent Covid situation and larger security implications resulting from allowing such a large number of people and accompanying cars and vehicles into a high-security zone, it was not advisable to allow such a large flow of people and unchecked vehicles.
There are credible inputs of vehicle bound IEDs being used to target civilians and high security installations.
The Gupkar Road houses high security buildings of various organisations and security-sensitive establishments and intelligence agencies.
Allowing large number of vehicles to be parked in this high security zone would have jeopardised the security in the area. It is pertinent to mention that no such gatherings and amassing of vehicles were allowed on the road earlier too.
Moreover, no official residence has been known to have hosted large political rallies on Gupkar Road in the recent past. Legal Orders for necessary restrictions on the convention were passed by the Executive Magistrate, South Srinagar keeping in mind the COVID protocol and security sensitiveness of the Gupkar zone.
“It is completely incorrect that Ms. Mufti is under house arrest”. However, local administration had advised PDP to apply for holding this convention in a more open area in view of Covid-19 and security reasons.