The Jammu and Kashmir government appeared no way close to shaking off its jitters on the fifth anniversary of the scrapping of special status as politicians were reportedly put under house arrest and restrictions were placed on the movement of convoys and pilgrims to prevent protests against the move.

Several pro-India politicians said they were detained in their homes while reportedly receiving orders not to step out of their homes.

Officials said the security remained on high alert amid instructions to different security agencies to prevent the movement of security convoys and Amarnath pilgrims from Jammu to the Valley base camps.

The only political party that appeared to enjoy some freedom was the BJP which was allowed to take out a procession outside their office in uptown Srinagar to celebrate the scrapping of special status. But only a handful of activists joined the celebrations.

“This is what passes for democracy & free speech in J&K. A handful of BJP ‘leaders’ are encouraged to celebrate today while those who would have registered their protest against what was done to J&K are locked up in homes across the valley,” former chief minister Omar Abdullah posted on X, uploading a video of the BJP procession.

Iltija Mufti, daughter of former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti and her media adviser, was among several politicians flagging concern over their house arrest.

“If Kashmir is as normal as GOI claims it to be why does @JmuKmrPolice place us under illegal house arrest on 5th August every year? The arrogance is such that SHO Nowgam has locked us up inside our own house & taken the keys away. Cops or new age jailers? You decide,” Iltija said in a social media post, also uploading pictures of their locked gate.

She lives with her mother. The PDP main office in Srinagar was also locked.

Mehbooba, in a video, said August 5 was not just a black day for Jammu and Kashmir but a blot on democratic India.