26 detained after vandalism of National Emblem at J&K's Hazratbal shrine

Srinagar police have detained 26 people after a mob vandalised a plaque bearing the National Emblem at the Hazratbal Mosque. The incident, captured on CCTV, occurred after Friday prayers. The event has triggered a significant political confrontation. The BJP has labelled the act as pre-planned terrorism and criticised the NC and PDP, demanding an apology from Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah. In response, leaders including Mehbooba Mufti and J&K CM Omar Abdullah defended the vandals' sentiment, questioning the necessity of placing the emblem at a religious shrine. The J&K CM was quoted stating, “Pathar lagane ki jarurat hi nahin thi. Agar kaam sahi hota toh log khud ba khud uss kaam ko pahchan lete,” which translates to, "There was no need to install the stone. If the work was good, people would have recognised it on their own." The Kashmir Grand Mufti also echoed a similar stance.