Srinagar:
Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and President of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mehbooba Mufti, has been booked for alleged violations of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC). Mebooba has been booked for the incident on May 25, in Bijbehara town, where a large number of PDP workers, led by Mufti, assembled and raised slogans demanding the release of detained PDP members.
According to a complaint filed by the Assistant Returning Officer of Srigufwara, Bijbehara, the gathering of PDP supporters not only disrupted public order but also violated Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC). This section restricts the assembly of four or more persons in an area, especially during the enforcement of the MCC in the lead-up to elections. The disturbance reportedly lasted for more than an hour and caused significant blockage on the main road in Bijbehara, the FIR said.
The Assistant Returning Officer highlighted that the assembly and protest by the PDP workers led by Mehbooba Mufti constituted a gross violation of the MCC, which is in effect in the parliamentary constituency of Anantnag-Rajouri until June 4, 2024. The district magistrate concerned had issued an order enforcing Section 144 CrPC, under which such gatherings are prohibited to maintain law and order during the election period.
The complaint requested that necessary action be initiated under the rules against Mehbooba Mufti and the PDP workers identified by the concerned police authorities.