After meeting family of man whose death sparked custodial torture claims, Iltija Mufti ‘confined’ at Jammu’s Circuit House for an hour

Iltija protested the restrictions put on her movement and also criticised the Centre over the Gujjar youth’s suicide as well as the recent killing of a truck driver in a firing incident involving the Army in the Union Territory.

She also took aim at the National Conference government for maintaining silence over these issues and said it was the responsibility of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to protect the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

This came a day after Iltija claimed that she and her mother, former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, had been placed under house arrest in Srinagar.

Makhan Din (25), a Gujjar man from Billawar area of Kathua, died by suicide at his home on Tuesday evening and recorded the act on video. In the video, he denied any connection with terrorists, prompting separate investigations by the police and the local administration into why he was taken into custody and what happened while he was there.

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said in a post on X, “Finally, Iltija managed to reach Bilawer in Kathua to meet the bereaved family of Makhan Din, who was driven to suicide by police torture.”

“It’s deeply saddening that she (Iltija) had to endure so many obstacles and travel like a fugitive just to offer comfort to the victim’s family. The ruling party has shirked responsibility, conveniently attributing all issues to the Lieutenant Governor. However, as a responsible Opposition, PDP will always strive to reach out to the people to offer solace,” she said.

She said that she also intended to travel to Kathua to meet the family, but she was not allowed to “move out”.

“Nothing has changed in Kashmir even after elections. Now, even comforting the families of the victims is being criminalised,” she said.

The PDP president later hist out at authorities for allegedly preventing her daughter from addressing a press conference in Jammu.

“Visiting and offering solace to the families of victims has now been criminalised. This is evident from the latest actions of the police, who have detained Iltija at the Circuit House in Jammu, preventing her from addressing a press conference,” Mehbooba said.