SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir police stated on Thursday that 20 houses, including the residence of separatist Shabir Ahmed Shah, were searched following reports of militant movement in the area. The police denied the harassment allegations made by Shah’s daughter, asserting that all standard operating procedures (SOPs) were adhered to during the search operation.
According to the police statement, Shah’s daughter had posted tweets claiming harassment during the search operation. The police clarified that the search of 20 houses was prompted by credible information regarding militant activity in the locality. The incident was unrelated to the G-20, and it was a routine response based on the received inputs. The police emphasized that no harassment or harm occurred during the search, and all SOPs were followed.
The statement also pointed out that the daughter’s attempt to link the incident to the G-20, along with a former chief minister’s similar connection, was baseless. The police noted that the ex-chief minister herself had prior knowledge of such searches in the specific locality due to militant sightings.
The police statement highlighted that the search team comprised three Deputy Superintendents of Police (DySPs), three female officials, and others. It dismissed the allegations of malicious intent and described them as an effort by the family of a separatist, who is currently imprisoned for funding militancy, to push a false narrative.
Earlier, in her tweets, Sehar Shabir Shah, the daughter of Shabir Ahmed Shah, wrote about the alleged harassment: “If this was because of G-20, this is the highest level of harassment we faced today.” She further detailed the incident, mentioning that security forces, including the army, Special Forces, and black cat commandos, raided their house. She described how the army was present throughout the area and used armored vehicles to block off the bypass and colony. She claimed that armed individuals broke into their house through the kitchen garden, while her mother was praying and she had gone cycling. Sehar stated that around 20 to 25 heavily armed men entered their home, searched every part of it, and caused damage.
Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti also tweeted about the incident, expressing concern over security forces breaking into homes and violating people’s privacy prior to the G-20 summit in Kashmir.
Right before G20 in Kashmir, security forces are breaking into homes, ransacking & violating the privacy of people here. As if the existing repression in Kashmir wasn’t enough, GOIs paranoia about G20 has unleashed bigger demons. Even women are not being spared. https://t.co/QMCH6yFcnt
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) May 18, 2023
She suggested that the government’s paranoia about the G-20 had led to increased aggression, even against women. (KNO)
