SRINAGAR: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti has written a strongly-worded letter to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, raising concerns over what she termed as an “indiscriminate crackdown” in the Valley following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam.
During my visit to Pahalgam yesterday, many local residents expressed deep fear & anxiety about being arbitrarily detained by the police. In the aftermath of the heinous terror attack in Pahalgam, the response has included a sweeping clampdown with thousands of civilians… pic.twitter.com/q0mFhRqh8g
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) May 6, 2025
Describing the current atmosphere as one of national grief over the “tragic and cowardly” attack, Mehbooba said the people of Kashmir had not only condemned the incident but had taken “a step further” by observing a complete shutdown and holding street protests against terrorism. She hailed this as a “significant and heartening shift” in public sentiment, where Kashmiris openly stood in solidarity with the rest of the country.
“For the first time, Kashmiris openly defied terrorism and stood united with the nation during this critical time,” Mehbooba wrote in the letter dated May 6. She added that in the immediate aftermath of the attack, it was local residents who were the first responders—rushing the injured to hospitals and donating blood—not as a favour but out of “heartfelt duty.”
However, the PDP chief expressed deep dismay at the subsequent response from security agencies, which she said had taken the form of “a sweeping and indiscriminate crackdown.” Citing reports of over 3,000 arrests and nearly 100 detentions under the Public Safety Act (PSA), she said such actions “don’t reflect justice but rather a collective form of punishment.”
“This approach not only risks alienating families and communities but also begs the question: where will all this lead us to?” she asked. “While we are all unequivocally in favour of justice, the actions currently being undertaken amount to mass retribution.”
Calling on the administration to act responsibly, she said no democratic society should tolerate the treatment currently being meted out to the people of Kashmir. Mehbooba reiterated her long-standing position that Kashmiris have extended “a hand of goodwill,” and it was now time for the rest of the country to respond with compassion.
“It is deeply disheartening that the actions of a few terrorists are now determining how security agencies respond to the situation and go on a spree of arrests of innocent civilians,” she wrote.
With the annual Shri Amarnath Yatra approaching, Mehbooba urged LG Sinha to personally intervene to put an end to what she described as a “policy of collective arrests and punitive measures,” and to ensure the release of innocent detainees. She emphasised that the people of Kashmir needed to be allowed to “breathe easy” and prepare to welcome Yatra pilgrims with their traditional “warmth and hospitality.”
In closing, she expressed hope for a “positive and compassionate response” from the administration.
The letter comes amid heightened tensions in the Valley following the Pahalgam attack, which claimed the lives of several civilians. While investigations continue, local reports have pointed to a large-scale detainment drive, particularly in South Kashmir, raising concerns among political parties and civil society about human rights and due process.
The Lieutenant Governor’s office has not yet issued a response to the letter.
