Police not filing FIR against Waqf chairperson over Hazratbal incident, will approach court: PDP

PDP and NC parties say that those who took the decision to place the National Emblem on a plaque in a religious place should be held accountable and also demand withdrawal of FIR against locals

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti and ruling National Conference (NC) MLA Tanvir Sadiq on Monday (September 8, 2025) demanded that the name of J&K Waqf Board chairperson Darakshan Andrabi be mentioned in the First Information Report (FIR) registered over the recent incident of defiling of National Emblem on a plaque at the Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar.

Ms. Mufti said her party approached the Nigeen police station for an FIR against Ms. Andrabi but was “denied”.

“I urge the J&K Police to initiate an FIR immediately given the gravity of the offence: deliberately hurting the religious sentiments of Muslims thereby provoking them,” Ms. Mufti said.

Later in the day, addressing a press conference in Srinagar, Ms. Mufti’s daughter Iltija said the PDP members had approached two police stations seeking registration of an FIR against Ms. Andrabi “but faced hesitation from the police”. “If they fail to act, we will approach the Honourable Court,” Ms. Iltija said.

She said the Waqf Board’s move to install the National Emblem on the plaque related to recently renovated prayer hall “deeply hurt the religious sentiments of people in J&K”.

Ms. Iltija said laws in Kashmir were being turned on their heads by being applied inversely. “Instead of filing an FIR against Waqf Chairperson for wilfully hurting religious sentiments of Muslims, the police have caved in to her threatening orders by booking 50 civilians. No accountability for her hurtful irresponsible actions,” she said.

‘Don’t file FIR against locals’

The PDP also condemned the move to detain local worshippers allegedly involved in defiling the Emblem on Friday (September 5, 2025). “The emotions of people must be respected. Instead of filing cases against locals, there should be accountability of those who decided to place the Emblem inside a religious place. Ms. Andrabi should be removed from her position. She is not an elected representative of the people,” Ms. Mufti said.

She also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah “to withdraw the FIRs lodged against several people over the issue”.

Ruling National Conference (NC) MLA Tanvir Sadiq also demanded the mention of Ms. Andrabi’s name in the case. “We condemn the violence that erupted inside the shrine (on Friday). However, people reacted spontaneously. It’s more important to pinpoint who started the mischief. [It’s] The one who misused the Emblem and violated the law,” Mr. Sadiq said.

He said the NC government will approach the Assembly Speaker for setting up a House Committee to look into “irregularities of the Board” in recent years. “The House Committee will look into the case of allotment of properties without e-tendering and other irregularities,” Mr. Sadiq said.

The NC said the current crisis could have been addressed by initiating a dialogue. “Intimidation and the threat of Public Safety Act (PSA) against locals is not a right move,” Mr. Sadiq said.

‘Law prohibits Emblem in religious places’

CPI(M) leader and Kulgam MLA M.Y. Tarigami also described the reported detentions of locals over the Hazratbal incident as “unfortunate and avoidable”.

“Lodging FIR against several people, who reacted spontaneously to what they felt was meddling with a religious place and had hurt their emotions and sentiments, was unjustified. It wasn’t really necessary, nor was it any case of national security, to arrest people. If at all an FIR was to be filed, it should have been against those who provoked people in the first place by placing the Emblem plaque at a religious institution,” Mr. Tarigami said.

Mr. Tarigami said the National Emblem was respected by all, “but the law itself prohibits its association with religious places”. “At a time when we all want peace, harmony, and reduced divisions, opening this new chapter is unjustified,” he added.

Meanwhile, the BJP has sought strict police actions against those who indulged in damaging the Emblem. “Goons with stones, who had the backing of a political party, came and damaged our Emblem. It’s an attack on sovereignty. Public Safety Act (PSA) is a small punishment. Such people’s houses should be bulldozed. There is a way to put across objections,” BJP spokesperson Sahil Bashir said.