Police halt rival NC and BJP protests in Srinagar

Police in Srinagar on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, foiled rival protest marches by the ruling National Conference and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party, preventing both demonstrations from reaching their intended targets after clashes erupted between demonstrators and security forces. The National Conference had planned to march toward the BJP office in Jawahar Nagar to demand the restoration of statehood and constitutional guarantees, while the BJP aimed to gherao the Civil Secretariat to highlight issues of unemployment and governance. Senior National Conference leaders, including Health and Education Minister Sakina Itoo and several MLAs, gathered near the Rajbagh police station to begin their march. Police had erected barricades on the road leading to the BJP office, stopping the protesters and leading to confrontations. Some demonstrators were taken into preventive custody. Nasir Aslam Wani, an advisor to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, explained the party's motivation, stating that the government was compelled to protest because key issues remained pending after two years of waiting.