Caged Like Animals: Mehbooba Mufti’s Daughter Writes to Amit Shah

Iltija Mufti said that Kashmiris are reeling under despair since the abrogation of Article 370 on 5 August.

(Photo: The Quint)

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti's daughter, Iltija Mufti, on Friday, 16 August, wrote a letter to Home Minister Amit Shah seeking clarity over her detention at her residence in Srinagar.

Iltija, in her letter, also expressed concern over her mother's safety. She also said that she had been threatened with dire consequences if she ever spoke to the media again, The Indian Express reported.

She said that Kashmiris are reeling under despair since the abrogation of Article 370 on 5 August.

“It has now been over 10 long agonising days since this crippling curfew was imposed. The Valley is gripped with fear because all forms of communication have been snapped thereby debilitating an entire population.” 

Iltija Mufti

She further said that while the rest of the country celebrates India’s Independence, Kashmiris have been caged like animals and deprived of basic human rights.

She further questioned her detention since she is not affiliated to any political party. She said that even if it’s her interviews, they were largely focused on the unconstitutional abrogation of the Article 370 followed by an unprecedented curfew.

“With due respect, i fail to understand why am I being punished for speaking on behalf of Kashmiris whose voices have been smothered. Is it a crime to articulate the pain, torment and indignity we’ve been subjected to? Does it warrant a detention to describe our plight? I will be most obliged if you could kindly throw light on the laws under which I’ve been detained and for how long? Do i need to seek legal recourse? It’s suffocating and humiliating to be treated in this manner.”

Iltija Mufti

She further invoked Satyamev Jayate (truth only triumphs) as the spirit of India and its Constitution.

“It’s a tragic irony that I am being treated like a war criminal for stating the inconvenient truth.”

Iltija Mufti

(with inputs from The Indian Express)