Mirwaiz MP Rashid MP Ruhullah Lone questions mass arrests, demolitions after Anantnag attack

There is growing anger and concern among regional party leaders, including Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Member of Parliament (MP) Engineer Rashid and MP Aga Syed Ruhullah, over the mass arrests and demolition of homes of terrorist families in Kashmir in the wake of the Anantnag attack that left a policeman dead two days ago.

Addressing a congregation at the historic Jama Masjid Srinagar on Friday (July 24, 2026), Mirwaiz said there had been “massive detention, interrogation and harassment of youth across Kashmir in the past two days, with more than 2,000 young men detained on charges of being ‘OGW ground workers'”.

“The violent act of one cannot justify collective punishment for all. The killing should be investigated and those responsible (in the Anantnag attack) should be dealt with according to law. But innocent youth and their families should not be scapegoated and should not suffer,” Mirwaiz said.

He said reports of suspected militants’ houses being demolished, rendering their families homeless, “is yet another extrajudicial and unjust measure”. “Such measures increase resentment and are ultimately counterproductive,” Mirwaiz said.

Meanwhile, Mirwaiz welcomed the bail of Kashmiri human rights activist Khurram Parvez and journalist Irfan Mehraj.

On student protests in New Delhi, Mirwaiz said: “Young people who raise their genuine concerns should be heard and engaged, not subjected to police and violence”.

He said reports of bullet injuries among protesters “were a painful reminder of the devastating effects of firearms on hundreds of Kashmiris over the decades.” It is sad to see students in Delhi facing this now. The use of force cannot resolve grievances or problems, whether in Delhi or Kashmir; dialogue, responsibility and engagement are the only way to a solution,” he added.

In New Delhi, amid ongoing unrest in Parliament, MP Rashid, who heads the Awami Ittehad Party (AIP), strongly protested mass detention and bulldozing of residential buildings in the Kashmir Valley.

An AIP spokesperson said that as soon as the House met this morning, MP Rashid entered the well of the House and protested against the mass detention and demolition of residential houses in Kashmir.

“We feel the pain of the family of the late policeman who was killed in the Anantnag militant attack. First of all, he was one of us. But how can you justify arresting 2,500 people and bulldozing residential houses? No one in this country is talking about Kashmir and state oppression against them. You have tried to silence our voices and violent arguments with martial law.” in J&K,” MP Rashid said.

The MP, who is currently in jail in Tihar Jail in an alleged terror financing case, said, “The use of force against protesters in Delhi is equally reprehensible. But why in such situations are Kashmiris not even allowed to express their pain on social media? The incidents in Delhi have once again raised serious questions about whether New Delhi is really treating Kashmiris as its own people in Delhi. While the police were on the streets of Delhi without violence.however, in law and order in Kashmir, when an unidentified militant attacks a policeman, cases are registered against thousands of people and entire communities are subjected to suspicion and punishment.

He also highlighted the killing of an auto driver, Arif Hussain, in Bhaderwah during an anti-militancy operation. “It is a cold-blooded killing by the police. Before talking to Sonam Wangchuk and offering him juice to break his fast, (Union minister) Dr Jitendra Singh must answer how Arif Hussain was killed in cold blood in Bhaderwah. He did not speak a single word against this killing,” MP Rashid said.

National Conference leader and Member of Parliament Aga Syed Ruhullah detained 2,500 young men within 24 hours under the phrase “detained for questioning”. “It doesn’t appear in any law and has no protection. And two houses were blown up at night. One of them was demolished last year, rebuilt and lived in for barely a few months. The Supreme Court declared criminal demolition without due process unconstitutional,” said MP Ruhullah.

J&K Peoples Conference (JKPC) president and legislator Sajad Lone also expressed concern over the mass arrests. “The action of J&K police after yesterday’s heinous attack will cause more damage. You cannot summon and arrest thousands of people because their name is on the OGW list. The list is decades old.”

He said most of these people are old, well into their seventies. “There is a concept of reintegration in conflict situations. People who have taken up arms are eventually encouraged and facilitated to reintegrate into society. I don’t agree with the concept of mass arrests. It looks more like community punishment. Please look. We live here among people and we are subject to questions. And what law of our country justifies this community punishment? It is clearly illegal,” Mr Lone said.

Published – 25 Jul 2026 03:26 IST