SRINAGAR: With J&K Police and Iltija Mufti locked up in a battle over allegations of assault and manhandling, chief minister Omar Abdullah Friday accused them of playing a “fixed match” in a bid to restore PDP’s credibility.Iltija, who accused police of manhandling her during the Aug 4-5 protest in Kashmir on the anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370, was Friday called to Kothibagh police station in Srinagar and questioned for nearly two hours over her alleged assault on a cop. Police have alleged that she bit the forearm of an officer during the protest, causing an injury.When asked about PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti’s criticism of the action against her daughter, Omar told reporters: “Please don’t ask me to comment on this fixed match. Whenever PDP’s political image weakens, agencies step in to help restore its credibility as they are the party’s mai baap. This party didn’t rise on its own, and it was made by agencies (a euphemism widely used by NC to refer to intelligence agencies).”Questioning the claims and counter-claims, Omar said: “Is Iltija Mufti a five-year-old child that she would bite someone? This entire episode is a fixed match and an unnecessary attempt to distract people from the real issues.”While police did not issue any statement on Iltija’s questioning, she said she was willing to cooperate with any investigation. However, she added: “I am neither the first nor the last Kashmiri to be summoned. My fight is not personal. I am here to fight for every Kashmiri.”
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On the CM’s remark, Iltija said: “Omar Sahib keeps giving the BJP a clean chit. He no longer speaks about Article 370 or special status. During the elections, he spoke about it every day. Now, it has become easier for him to target PDP than to question BJP.”Iltija has been booked under BNS sections 121, 132 and 191 for assault on public servants and rioting. Police alleged that during the protest on Aug 4, Iltija grabbed an officer on duty and bit his forearm, causing an injury and bleeding.Iltija, on the other hand, claimed she was manhandled by a woman IPS officer of SP rank, along with other police personnel and her own PSO, and added that she intended to take the matter to court.
