Mirwaiz, Mehbooba claim house arrest to prevent them from attending separatist Bhat's funeral

SRINAGAR: J&K's chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and at least two senior politicians – PDP president and ex-CM Mehbooba Mufti and Sajad Lone of People's Conference – alleged on Thursday that the administration ordered their house arrest to prevent them from attending the funeral of pro-Pakistan separatist Abdul Gani Bhat .

"I have been locked up inside my home and denied the right to walk with him (Bhat) in his final journey. My association with him spanned 35 years of friendship and guidance. So many others, too, longed to pay their last respects," the Mirwaiz, who also heads the Hurriyat Conference, said.

Lone said he failed to understand the need to prevent someone from being part of Bhat's last rites. "Prof sahib was a pacifist and long retired. A final goodbye is something which we all deserve."

Mehbooba said her alleged house arrest "lays bare the harsh and undemocratic reality" of J&K. "It is becoming increasingly clear that BJP has no interest in peace or healing in Kashmir."

Senior police officers declined to comment on the allegations. J&K being a Union territory, the law and order and security machinery reports to lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha.

Bhat, a former Hurriyat chief, died on Wednesday evening at Botingoo in north Kashmir's Sopore. He was 89.