Ex-CMs Mehbooba, Omar arrested

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir's former Chief Ministers Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah - who were placed under house arrest late Sunday night - have been arrested, sources said. Mehbooba Mufti has been taken from her home in Srinagar to a nearby government guest house.

The government's move Sunday to place her and Kashmir valley's other mainstream leaders - Omar Abdullah and Sajjad Lone - under house arrest and its move Monday morning to end the state's special status and bifurcate it, had provoked an outpouring of tweets from the two leaders.

Omar Abdullah has already indicated that his party might challenge the government's move in court.

The former chief minister and National Conference leader said it was a total "betrayal of trust" of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

"Today marks the darkest day in Indian democracy.," PDP chief and former J&K chief minister Mehbooba Mufti said.