Day after the five members of the Concerned Citizens Group (CCG) arrived in Srinagar with an aim to go for an independent assessment of ground situation in Kashmir, they were not allowed to meet the caged politicians including Dr Farooq Adullah, his son Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti. The five-member group headed by former finance minister and BJP leader Yashwant Sinha were also issued a security advisory that calls for restricting the “travel within and outside the Srinagar.”The five-member group were prevented today by J&K authorities from travelling outside Srinagar citing ‘militancy problem ‘in the areas they intend to visit. According to the wire-service—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the other members of the group, who reached Srinagar yesterday, include Sushoba Barve, former journalist Bharat Bhushan, former bureaucrat Wajahat Habibullah and Kapil Kak.Sihna had yesterday spoken to NC leader Farooq Abdullah over phone. Farooq, Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti is among 50-odd politician who have been detained by J&K administration after the BJP’s move on Article 370. Sinha told KNO that phone call to NC leader was facilitated by a friend.
He said they had planned to travel to Pulwama and Shopian in South Kashmir today but the authorities restricted their movement ‘militancy threat’ in the south Kashmir. “We had sent a written communication to deputy commissioner asking for permission to visit Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti and M Y Yousuf Tarigami. But we were told we can’t meet these leaders,” Sinha said. He said the police told him they were free to move in Srinagar with the knowledge and permission of the authorities. “This is to stop us from going to these places and seeing the situation for ourselves,” he said.As per KNO, a security advisory issued SSP Security to the five member group read that, “I am directed by SSP security, Kashmir to strongly advise you to refrain from taking any such journey which would jeopardise your safety and security.’’The group has met several delegations after arriving in Srinagar is scheduled to return to Delhi on November 25. On Friday, Sinha had stated that the picture of Kashmir situation presented in the Parliament was totally averse to the ground situation. (KNO)