Srinagar: A delegation of legislators from Jammu and Kashmir’s National Conference (NC) on Sunday met Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha in Srinagar and urged him to review the cases of several youths arrested in connection with mourning gatherings held after reports related to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The delegation, led by NC MLA Tanvir Sadiq, submitted a memorandum to the Lieutenant Governor seeking the release of detainees and withdrawal of FIRs registered against participants of the gatherings.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Sadiq said the Lieutenant Governor assured the delegation that the matter would be looked into.
“We met LG Manoj Sinha today and he assured us that the cases of those mourners who were arrested in the aftermath of the developments related to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will be reviewed,” Sadiq said.
He expressed hope that those detained would be released after the review process. “We hope that all those arrested will be released. The meeting with the LG was cordial,” he added.
According to Sadiq, the delegation highlighted the humanitarian aspect of the issue, particularly with Eid approaching.
“We stressed that Eid is coming and these arrested youth should be released so that their families do not suffer during the festival,” he said.
In the memorandum, the legislators said several citizens were arrested and FIRs registered against them for participating in mourning gatherings following the reported death of Ayatollah Khamenei on February 28. They said the gatherings were peaceful expressions of grief and urged the administration to adopt a compassionate approach.
The MLAs also raised concern over the invocation of provisions under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in some of the cases and said applying stringent laws against mourners sets a worrying precedent. They noted that many of those detained were young individuals who had only recently crossed the age of eighteen.
The memorandum further stated that mourning gatherings for Khamenei were held in several Indian cities, including Lucknow, Kargil, New Delhi and Mumbai, without legal action, and questioned why people in Jammu and Kashmir alone were facing criminal prosecution.
The legislators requested the Lieutenant Governor to ensure the immediate release of all detainees, withdrawal of all FIRs—including those registered under UAPA—and a halt to further arrests related to the gatherings. They also appealed for the step to be taken as a gesture of goodwill as the holy month of Ramzan draws to a close and Eid approaches.
The delegation that met the Lieutenant Governor included Tanvir Sadiq (MLA Zadibal), Ali Mohammad Dar (MLA Chadoora), Reyaz Ahmad Bedar (MLA Pattan), and Hilal Akbar Lone (MLA Sonawari).
Sadiq reiterated that the National Conference does not support what he described as a “prison policy” and said the party would continue advocating for the release of detainees. He also referred to the party’s ongoing demand for the release of Doda MLA Mehraj Malik.
