Omar meets religious leaders amid J&K unrest; MP Ruhullah questions ‘instrument of establishment’ role

Expressing his gratitude to the civil society and religious leadership, Omar said: “We have made an appeal to maintain peace and brotherhood. We may express our anguish peacefully, whether it is in our mosques, shrines or imambaras. We hope this appeal will resonate with all our people”.

This follows days of unrest in several parts of J&K. On Tuesday, the Jammu and Kashmir Police Tuesday said an FIR was registered and summons were issued regarding the “circulation of fake, fabricated and misleading information by certain news channels, media outlets and individuals across electronic and social media platforms”. Late Tuesday, Police also booked Ruhullah and Mattu. Both said that their security was also downgraded after their statements criticising Israel and US for the strike in Iran.

“Our endeavour is that no innocent blood should be spilled in these law and order distrubances,” Omar said.

Restrictions on civilian movement, put in place Monday amid the protests, continued to be in place in some parts Wednesday while mobile internet remains restricted to 2G.

Meanwhile, reacting strongly to the CM’s statement urging peace, Ruhullah Mehdi said in a post on X: “When and how was the communal harmony disturbed by the mourners which forced the assembly of this “group” to call for communal harmony. What message is he trying to send? Whose point is he asserting and advocating?”

He also questioned Omar on whether he is “trying to become an instrument of the establishment to justify their unjustifiable actions” He said that the only call that he and this “group” should have made was to ask for the immediate release of our youth and unconditional withdrawal of FIRs against them. “It took a question from a journalist to get a half-hearted mention of the FIRs and detentions of our youth. He couldn’t ask for their release extemporaneously in his opening remarks. Who does he represent? I thought we elected a representative for us who would stand for us against all odds.”

Naveed Iqbal is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, and reports from Jammu and Kashmir. With a career spanning over 15 years in frontline journalism, Naveed provides authoritative reporting on the region’s transition, governance, and the socio-political implications of national policies. Expertise Regional Specialization: Based in the Srinagar and New Delhi bureaus, Naveed has spent over a decade documenting the unique challenges of Jammu and Kashmir. Her reporting is distinguished by deep contextual knowledge of the region's post-Article 370, statehood debates, and local electoral politics. Key Coverage Beats: Her extensive body of work covers: Politics & Governance: Tracking the National Conference (NC), PDP, and BJP dynamics, including in-depth coverage of J&K’s first Assembly sessions and Rajya Sabha polls following the reorganization of the state. Internal Security & Justice: Providing rigorous reporting on counter-insurgency operations, terror module investigations, and judicial developments involving political detainees and constitutional rights. Education & Minority Affairs: Highlighting systemic issues such as quota rows in J&K, public service commission reforms, and the challenges faced by minority communities. ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram

© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd