Tue Jul 01 07:54:08 UTC 2025: ## Police Halt PDP Protest in Srinagar, Detain Leaders

**Srinagar, July 1, 2025** – Jammu and Kashmir police today detained several leaders and activists of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Srinagar, foiling a planned protest march against the National Conference (NC) government. The PDP was demonstrating against what they call the government’s failure to deliver on promises and a betrayal of public trust.

The protest began near the Sher-e-Kashmir Park, where PDP members gathered and attempted to march towards Lal Chowk in the city center. Police intervened, requesting the protesters to disperse. When they refused, officers detained numerous individuals.

PDP Chief and former J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti condemned the detentions in a statement on X, accusing the administration of prioritizing suppressing PDP protests over addressing critical issues facing the region. She cited a worsening water crisis, soaring electricity bills, a 17.4% unemployment rate, and the unresolved issue of political prisoners. “It appears that the administration only flexes its might when it comes to foiling PDP protests and detaining our workers,” Mufti wrote.

Among those detained were PDP general secretaries Abdul Haq Khan and Mohammad Khurshid Alam, along with senior leaders Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura and Syed Basharat Bukhari. Members of the party’s women’s wing were also reportedly taken into custody.

Before being detained, Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura described the police action as “dictatorship,” stating the protest was organized to address issues like the non-availability of drinking water, increased electricity tariffs, and the detention of Kashmiri youth in jails outside the region. “We tried to take out a protest march against the non-availability of drinking water, increase in electricity tariff and to demand the return of our youth languishing in jails outside J&K. But look at this dictatorship of the LG administration and the Omar Abdullah government that we are not even allowed to protest peacefully,” he stated.

The situation remains tense in Srinagar following the detentions.

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