Open Merit students in Kashmir cancelled their planned sit-in protest on December 28, 2025, over the “unfair reservation quota.” The move came after police placed National Conference’s Aga Syed Ruhullah, PDP’s Waheed-ur-Rehmaan Parra, and Iltija Mufti under house arrest and detained student leaders. The Open Merit Students Association J&K announced the cancellation on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “Today’s sit-in cum meet-up on the unfair reservation policy stands cancelled due to circumstances beyond our control.” They urged students to “remain calm” and return safely to their hostels, libraries, or homes, assuring, “No student is at fault. There is no threat or risk. Please stay calm and do not panic.” A student leader reported that many activists were taken into preventive detention or banned from organizing protests since the evening of December 27. Security forces closed the venue in Srinagar’s Polo View area with concertina wires. The three leaders accused the police of house arrest to stop them joining the protests. An aide to MP Ruhullah said, “The Police has officially informed MP Ruhullah that he has been placed under house arrest and is barred from stepping outside. We have also received reports late last night that students have been arrested and their families intimidated by the police.” A PDP spokesman called the house arrest of MLA Parra “blatant State repression, aimed at silencing dissent and truth.” He added, “Instead of fixing a deeply unjust reservation policy, the government is crushing voices exposing how Open Merit students’ hard work, merit, careers and futures are being destroyed.” Iltija Mufti shared a photo of her residence sealed with concertina wires and said, “Like many others, I have also been placed under house arrest at Srinagar today. The insecurity and paranoia of the security agencies know no bounds. This is the ‘normalcy’ in Naya Kashmir.” An all-female police contingent was posted at her gate to stop her leaving. Since protests began, J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah formed a three-member subcommittee to increase the Open Merit category quota to 50%. The proposal has been submitted for approval at Lok Bhavan, but students demand full disclosure of the plan’s details.