Srinagar: Peoples Democratic Party president and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti Friday questioned the timing of the NIA arrests before the next year’s Parliamentary elections, saying “national security is best served by being just and inclusive, not suspicious of an entire community”.

Mehbooba said though national security is supreme but declaring suspects as terrorists on the basis of ‘Sutli bombs’ is premature.

“National security is supreme. But declaring suspects as terrorists on the basis of Sutli bombs, associating with the dreaded IS is premature. It has already devastated their lives and families. NIA must learn from earlier episodes in which the accused were acquitted after decades,” Mehbooba tweeted.

She said the arrests by the country’s premier investigation agency just before elections raise suspicion.

“Arrests by NIA in the election season do raise suspicion, especially after the urban Naxal case seems to be falling apart. National security is best served by being just and inclusive, not suspicious of an entire community,” she said.