Use of Force Cannot Address Students’ Concerns: Mirwaiz on Reservation Protests | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Umar Farooq on Friday strongly criticised the authorities for what he described as the “default use of force” in response to political and social issues in Jammu and Kashmir, condemning the detention of political leaders and student activists supporting a peaceful protest over the reservation policy.

In a statement, the Mirwaiz said even a non-violent sit-in by anxious students demanding justice against what they term a “lopsided” reservation framework had been met with repression instead of dialogue. He termed the house detention of leaders and activists “unwarranted” and warned that the issue was of serious public concern that required immediate redressal, not reprisal.

“This is a very important concern of the people and needs to be addressed without delay, before it escalates further,” the Mirwaiz said, adding that the elected government had a clear responsibility to resolve the matter democratically.

His remarks came amid reports of heavy deployment of Jammu and Kashmir Police and Central Reserve Police Force personnel outside the residences of several political leaders in Srinagar, including National Conference MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, PDP leader Waheed Para and former Srinagar mayor Junaid Azim Mattu.

The Office of MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi confirmed the presence of armed personnel outside his residence and questioned whether the deployment amounted to a pre-emptive crackdown aimed at silencing a peaceful, pro-student demonstration. The office said the authorities owed the public an explanation and maintained that plans for the student sit-in remained unchanged.

Separately, a close aide of Pulwama MLA Waheed Para said the legislator had been placed under house arrest during the night ahead of the proposed protest. The aide questioned the rationale behind restricting movement prior to a peaceful demonstration, calling it an attempt to suppress dissent.

Junaid Azim Mattu also alleged that heavy police and CRPF deployment outside his residence was intended to curb voices seeking justice. He said curbing dissent could neither legitimise nor sustain any policy.

Photographs and CCTV visuals circulated on social media showed police vehicles and armed personnel stationed outside the residences late into the night. Police authorities have not issued an official statement confirming the detentions or security measures.

The student sit-in, supported by several political leaders, seeks rationalisation of reservation quotas in Jammu and Kashmir. While the government has constituted a committee to examine the issue, its findings have not yet been made public. Several MLAs have said the report is currently with the Raj Bhavan.

In his statement, the Mirwaiz also raised concern over reports of harassment of Kashmiris in Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and other parts of the country, saying the matter required serious and urgent intervention by the government.

His comments came against the backdrop of a recent incident in Uttarakhand, where a Kashmiri shawl seller was allegedly assaulted in Kashipur for refusing to chant a slogan on religious grounds. Uttarakhand Police later arrested Bajrang Dal leader Ankur Singh and others after registering an FIR under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

The Office of MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi termed the incident a violation of constitutional freedoms, while Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid, currently lodged in jail, wrote to the Chief Ministers of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh seeking exemplary action against those attacking Kashmiri traders.

MLA Lolab Qaiser Jamshed Lone also described the reports of harassment as deeply disturbing, stating that the Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to move, work and trade freely across the country.

The Mirwaiz reiterated that addressing people’s grievances through dialogue and justice, rather than force, was essential to prevent further alienation and unrest in the region.