Srinagar: Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday placed several political leaders under house arrest to prevent them from joining a students’ protest against the existing reservation policy, scheduled to be held at Gupkar Road in Srinagar.

Those confined to their homes include People's Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti, her daughter Iltija Mufti, National Conference MP from Srinagar Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, PDP leader and Pulwama MLA Waheed Para, and former Srinagar mayor Junaid Mattoo, officials said.

The preventive action came after the leaders publicly expressed solidarity with students planning a peaceful sit-in to protest the delay in rationalising the reservation policy. The protest marks nearly a year since Chief Minister Omar Abdullah constituted a cabinet sub-committee to examine the issue, with no report made public so far.

Reacting strongly, Waheed Para termed the house arrests “unfortunate” and accused the government of stifling democratic voices. He said the reservation policy had turned into an “existential issue” for the youth of Jammu and Kashmir.

“It has been over a year since we, along with students, assembled outside the Chief Minister’s residence. Unfortunately, there has been absolutely zero intent from the government to resolve this issue, which has only deepened uncertainty and anxiety among our youth,” Para said in a post on X.

National Conference MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, in a post late Saturday night, said armed police personnel had been deployed outside his residence. “Is this a pre-emptive crackdown to silence a peaceful, pro-student demonstration?” he asked.

Para further demanded that the report of the cabinet sub-committee on reservations be placed in the public domain without delay. He argued there was no justification for withholding the report, even if its recommendations were still awaiting approval from the Lieutenant Governor.

Students’ groups have been demanding a rationalisation of the reservation policy, alleging that prolonged delays have adversely impacted merit-based opportunities and future prospects.