Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir placed several political leaders, including National Conference MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi and PDP leaders, under house arrest to prevent them from joining a student protest against the reservation policy. The students, demanding rationalization of the policy for open merit candidates, called off their planned sit-in after the detentions and sealing of the protest venue. While some leaders expressed solidarity with the students, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah suggested the protest aimed to create chaos.