Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti’s daughter and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader Iltija Mufti, who has described Hindutva as a “disease,” has been booked by Srinagar Police in an FIR. During a protest against the abrogation of Article 370, Iltija Mufti allegedly got into a scuffle with a police officer who was on duty and bit his arm. The officer suffered an injury on his arm and started bleeding after the alleged bite.
Mehbooba Mufti has also been named in the case along with Iltija Mufti. Mehbooba Mufti has been accused of violating restrictions and administrative directions imposed by the authorities. Police have taken action under Sections 121, 132 and 191 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). These sections relate to assault on government employees, obstructing them in the discharge of their official duties, and activities related to rioting or unlawful conduct. The FIR has been registered at Kothibagh Police Station and police have started an investigation.
Protest at SK Park, attempt to move towards Lal Chowk and scuffle
According to media reports, a PDP protest led by Mehbooba Mufti and Iltija Mufti was held at SK Park in Srinagar on the evening of August 4. The purpose of the protest was to oppose the abrogation of Article 370. During the protest, despite restrictions imposed by the administration, a group of protesters allegedly tried to block Residency Road and move towards Lal Chowk.
According to police, a group of protesters then allegedly tried to remove the barricades and stop police personnel who were deployed to maintain law and order. A scuffle broke out during the incident, and Iltija Mufti allegedly got into a physical confrontation with a police officer.
Police claim that Iltija held the officer and bit his arm. The officer suffered a deep injury to his hand and started bleeding. The injured police officer was immediately taken to a hospital, where doctors treated his wound.
Police issue summons
Police have treated the incident as a case involving an alleged attack on a government employee while he was on duty and obstruction of government work. FIR No. 63/2026 has been registered at Kothibagh Police Station.
As part of the investigation, Iltija Mufti has been summoned to appear at Kothibagh Police Station on Friday and join the investigation. Police have said that if any other person is found to have been involved in the alleged assault on government employees or obstruction of official work during the investigation, action will also be taken against them according to law.
Meanwhile, the PDP has rejected the police allegations and, in turn, accused the police of misbehaving with Iltija Mufti and causing injuries to her.
Iltija Mufti’s controversial remarks on Hindutva
Iltija Mufti has also been criticised for her views on Hindus. She has even described Hindutva as a “disease.”
In December 2024, Iltija had said that Hindutva is a “disease” that has affected millions of Indians and sullied the name of God. Mufti had said that “Hindutva is an ideology of hate that was spread by Vinayak Damodar Savarkar in India in the 1940s with the aim of establishing Hindu dominance.”
Not just her views on Hindutva, Iltija’s opposition to India also goes back years. During an interview with CNN in November 2019, she said, “India uses Pakistan as a ‘weapon to suppress Kashmiris’. The truth is that Kashmir became a part of a ‘secular’ India, and now India is turning into a ‘dictatorial Hindu Pakistan’.”
Iltija further said that India was increasingly becoming a hub of extremism, selective persecution, and hatred towards minorities, particularly Muslims.
