Srinagar, Oct 01 : PDP president and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday expressed concern over reports of a possible security forces’ takeover of a public ground in the Chattabal area of Srinagar.
Addressing media persons during her visit to the Tabalground in Chattabal, Mufti said local residents fear that the army or police may assume control of the ground — the only recreational space available to the area’s youth.
“Unfortunately, this has become a routine. We went to Chattabal Tabalground, and the same problem is there,” she said.
According to Mufti, locals have heard that police intend to construct a memorial for martyrs on the site. She questioned the choice of location, arguing that the ground serves as a vital community space in a region with limited recreational infrastructure.
“This is the only place in all of Jammu and Kashmir where the police can make something for the martyrs?” she asked.
Mufti said the ground plays an important role in the lives of young people who use it for sports and recreational activities. She warned that taking away such spaces could push youth towards detrimental paths.
“This is a ground for the people here. Our young boys and girls, God forbid, may turn to drugs or other wrong things,” she said.
Urging the Director General of Police to intervene, she appealed for the preservation of the ground as a public space.
“I request the DGP to intervene in this. Let this ground remain here. Let the children play,” she said.
She added that the ground is not only used for sports but also for walks by women, social gatherings, and even marriage functions.
“Children play here. Our mothers, children, and young women use it. They even get married here,” she said.
Mufti warned that taking over such community spaces could lead to tensions between residents and security agencies.
“If they get hold of this ground, then I think a conflict arises between them, which I don’t think is good,” she said.(KNS)
