ISLAMABAD, Sept 7: The foreign ministry on Saturday expressed deep concern at the apparent house arrest of three leaders in the occupied Kashmir.

“Though the house arrest orders have been lifted, the measure clearly reflected the Indian government’s desperation at the rejection by the Kashmiri people of the planned electoral farce,” a foreign ministry statement said.

Police in occupied Kashmir had cordoned off the homes of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference head Abdul Ghani Bhat and other leaders.

The foreign ministry said the move was meant to prevent them from engaging in “normal political activities.”

Bhat told AFP in Srinagar on Saturday that the police siege had been lifted and there seemed to be no more restrictions. Occupied Kashmir police chief Ashok Suri denied that the leaders had been placed under house arrest.—AFP