Sajad Lone placed under house arrest on father's death anniversary in Srinagar
Synopsis
On the day marking 24 years since his father Abdul Gani Lone was assassinated at Srinagar's Eidgah grounds, Peoples Conference chairman Sajad Gani Lone was placed under house arrest — a move his party has called 'undemocratic'. The detention of a sitting MLA on a politically charged anniversary raises pointed questions about civil liberties in Jammu and Kashmir.
Key Takeaways
Sajad Gani Lone , chairman of the Peoples Conference , was placed under house arrest in Srinagar on 21 May .
The detention fell on the 24th death anniversary of his father, Abdul Gani Lone , who was killed by terrorists at Eidgah grounds on 21 May 2002 .
The PC spokesperson described the house arrest as 'undemocratic'.
Sajad Lone is the sitting MLA from North Kashmir Handwara in the 90-member J&K Legislative Assembly.
Mirwaiz Maulana Mohammad Farooq , also killed on 21 May (in 1990 ), was the leader Abdul Gani Lone had gone to pay tribute to when he was shot.
A Hizbul Mujahideen operative was convicted for Mirwaiz's murder in 2010 ; two more suspects were arrested in 2023 .
Peoples Conference (PC) chairman Sajad Gani Lone was placed under house arrest in Srinagar on 21 May, the 24th death anniversary of his father, late Abdul Gani Lone, who was assassinated in the city in 2002. The detention, carried out by local authorities in Jammu and Kashmir, drew immediate condemnation from his party.
Party Calls Move Undemocratic
The PC's spokesperson described the house arrest of the party chairman as 'undemocratic', questioning why a sitting legislator should be confined on a day of personal and political mourning. Sajad Lone is the sitting MLA from the North Kashmir Handwara constituency in the 90-member Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly.
The Legacy Behind the Date
Abdul Gani Lone was shot dead by terrorists at the Eidgah grounds in Srinagar on 21 May 2002, while paying tribute to senior separatist leader and chief cleric Mirwaiz Maulana Mohammad Farooq — who had himself been killed by terrorists on 21 May 1990 at his Nigeen residence in Srinagar. The date thus carries a double weight in Kashmiri political memory.
Abdul Gani Lone had entered politics as a Congress candidate in the state Assembly in 1967. In 1978, he founded the Peoples Conference, a Kashmiri separatist organisation dedicated to the restoration of 'internal autonomy' in Kashmir. His son Sajad inherited both the party chairmanship and its political legacy.
Who Was Mirwaiz Maulana Mohammad Farooq
Mirwaiz Maulana Mohammad Farooq rose to prominence at the age of 19 during the agitation over the disappearance of a holy relic from the Hazratbal Shrine. He led protests demanding its recovery and co-founded the All Jammu and Kashmir Awami Action Committee (ACC), becoming its chairman. Though primarily a religious figure, his influence extended into socio-political mobilisation, particularly among sections of Kashmiri Muslims outside the dominant regional parties.
In 2010, a Hizbul Mujahideen operative was convicted for his murder. In 2023, police arrested two additional individuals in connection with the assassination, including, according to a police press briefing, the one who had entered Mirwaiz's bedroom and opened fire. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, his son, succeeded him as chief cleric and chairman of the Awami Action Committee.
Pattern of Preventive Detentions
The house arrest of Sajad Lone on a politically sensitive anniversary follows a pattern of preventive detentions in Jammu and Kashmir ahead of commemorative events. Critics argue such measures suppress legitimate political activity and silence voices of dissent under the guise of maintaining public order. This comes amid a broader debate over civil liberties in the region following the revocation of its special status in 2019.
As the 24th anniversary passes, the Peoples Conference is expected to press for accountability over the detention and continue demanding political space in the newly constituted assembly.
Point of View
And each instance chips away at the credibility of the democratic normalcy the Centre has repeatedly claimed to have restored post-2019. The Peoples Conference, once a separatist outfit, has since contested elections and operates within constitutional bounds; detaining its chairman without apparent cause undermines the very mainstreaming narrative the government champions. The silence of larger national parties on such detentions is equally telling.
NationPress
8 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Sajad Gani Lone placed under house arrest?
Sajad Gani Lone was placed under house arrest in Srinagar on 21 May by local authorities, reportedly as a preventive measure on the 24th death anniversary of his father, late Abdul Gani Lone. No official reason was publicly stated at the time of the detention.
Who was Abdul Gani Lone?
Abdul Gani Lone was a Kashmiri political leader who entered politics as a Congress candidate in 1967 and later founded the Peoples Conference in 1978, dedicated to restoring 'internal autonomy' in Kashmir. He was killed by terrorists at Eidgah grounds in Srinagar on 21 May 2002.
Who was Mirwaiz Maulana Mohammad Farooq and how is he connected?
Mirwaiz Maulana Mohammad Farooq was a senior Kashmiri religious and political leader who was killed by terrorists on 21 May 1990 at his Nigeen residence in Srinagar. Abdul Gani Lone was at Eidgah to pay tribute to him when he was himself assassinated twelve years later on the same date.
What has the Peoples Conference said about the detention?
The Peoples Conference spokesperson described the house arrest of party chairman Sajad Lone as 'undemocratic'. The party is expected to continue pressing for accountability over the detention.
What is Sajad Lone's current political position?
Sajad Gani Lone is the chairman of the Peoples Conference and a sitting MLA representing the North Kashmir Handwara constituency in the 90-member Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly.
