A rally organised by the Jammu Kashmir National Conference party. | Photo Credit: Twitter

Jammu: A sedition case has been registered against “unidentified persons” for allegedly raising “pro-freedom” slogans during a rally organised by the Jammu Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) party in Poonch district in support of Article 35A of the India Constitution, the police said on Monday.

The rally was led by JKNC Member of Legislative Assembly Javed Ahmed Rana in Mendhar Tehsil during a day-long strike against the Supreme Court’s hearings on a array of pleas challenging the validity of Article 35 A of the Indian Constitution, which accords special rights and privileges to the natives of Jammu and Kashmir.

During the gathering, some unidentified persons raised “pro-freedom” slogans, following which a case was registered under Sections 124A (sedition) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC), a police official said.

“The sedition case was registered against unidentified persons on Saturday,” the official said, adding that no arrests have been made yet.

This is the second sedition case registered against unidentified persons in Poonch in August. A similar case was lodged at Gursai police station on August 6 after some people raised pro-freedom slogans during a strike in support of Article 35A.

JKNC's Scheduled Caste Cell also staged a rally at Ramnagar in Udhampur district on Monday, stressing upon the need to protect and safeguard the Constitutional provision which, they claimed, reflects the identity and dignity of the people of the state.

The party’s cell co-chairperson Vijay Lochan said the people of the state would not allow the annulment of Article 35A, which, according to him, was vital for economic sustenance and jobs of the youths in the state.

He said weakening Article 35A would equivalent to usurping the rights of the unemployed youths and exposing the business community to threat from non-state subjects who may come and settle in the state.

Lochan accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of unleashing a misinformation campaign on Article 35A, adding that its leaders were dividing the people based on region, religion and caste.

He described Article 35A as “region and religion-neutral” and said it protects the interests of all segments of the society.

JKNC will fight the divisive politics of the BJP and offer every sacrifice for strengthening the bonds of amity and unity between the people, he said.