PDP youth convention barred by J&K authorities

NT Correspondent

Srinagar: The J&K administration on Sunday, barred Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from conducting a youth convention in Srinagar citing COVID-19 reasons. The convention was scheduled to begin in the morning. However, an order issued by the Executive Magistrate of South Srinagar said that the “scheduled youth convention by the PDP is not allowed” —following a report from the Srinagar Senior Superintendent of Police and in view of COVID-19.

The order asked the area Station House Officer to ensure that no such event takes place at Gupkar without permission of the competent. Hundreds of youth from different areas were expected to attend the PDP convention. As they were stopped by police at several places, they held protests and raised slogans against the administration. At the residence of PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti in the high-security Gupkar area, a large number of forces were deployed to prevent the program. J&K Police, said, that due to the “Covid situation and larger security implications” the event was not allowed.

“Given the prevalent Covid situation and larger security implications resulting from allowing such a large number of people and accompanying cars and vehicles into a high-security zone, it was not advisable to allow such a large flow of people and unchecked vehicles,” a police spokesman said. It said that they are “credible inputs of vehicle bound IEDs being used to target civilians and high-security installations”. —(PTI)