Srinagar, Sept. 7 -- The J&K Police have filed a case against unknown people amid a raging controversy over the alleged vandalisation of the Ashoka emblem at the Hazratbal shrine in Kashmir, with chief minister Omar Abdullah seeking an apology from the Waqf Board for the "mistake" while asserting that the national emblem is meant for government functions, not religious institutions. The Opposition BJP-led Waqf Board, however, slammed the defacement and said that "tarnishing the national emblem is a terrorist attack". Earlier on Friday, locals damaged an Ashoka emblem on a plaque inside the Hazratbal shrine -- the most revered shrine for Muslims in Jammu & Kashmir that houses the relic of Prophet Mohammed -- saying that the emblem had idols or carvings of animals that are forbidden inside Islamic religious sites. The plaque was inaugurated inside the shrine on Wednesday after the Waqf Board, led by senior BJP leader Darkshan Andrabi, had carried out some development works. The incident has since triggered a political storm in the Union territory, with the Waqf chairperson labelling the protesters as "terrorists", and seeking registration of FIR against them under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA). The Waqf chairperson had labelled the protesters as "terrorists" and sought registration of FIR against them and demanded they should be booked under the Public Safety Act. Police have already registered a case against unknown people under the provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Prevention of Insults to the National Honour Act. Officials said that persons who defaced the emblem on the inauguration stone are being identified. "A case under FIR number 76 of 2025 has been registered at Nigeen police station into the incident at Hazratbal on Friday in which the national emblem was damaged," officials said. The case has been registered under sections 300 (voluntarily disturbing an assembly lawfully performing religious worship or ceremonies), 352 (addresses intentional insults intended to provoke a breach of the peace or another offence), 191 (2) (rioting), 324 (cause wrongful loss or damage to any person or the public) and 61 (4) (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. However, Andrabi's demand for FIR and PSA received backlash not only from the J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah but also from other political and religious groups. "So far I haven't seen any religious institution using an emblem, so what was the need to use one on the stone at Hazaratbal," Omar told reporters in Anantnag. "The present form of Hazratbal Dargah is given by Shere -e- kashmir, Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah, he never used such a stone and people still remember him for his work despite not having his name engraved anywhere. What was the need to erect a stone? And if one's work is truly meaningful, it will be appreciated and remembered without the need for such markers," he added. He alleged that they have played with the sentiments of the public and an apology is needed. "In none of the religious institutions such an emblem is used, as emblems are only reserved for the government functions. A mosque, temple, dargah or gurdwara is a religious institution not a government body and, therefore, use of a government emblem in such institutions is inappropriate." Former J&K chief minister and the PDP president, Mehbooba Mufti also demanded legal action against Andrabi for using the state emblem at a religious place. "The Section 295-A of the Indian Penal Code that deals with deliberate acts intended to outrage religious sentiments should be invoked here," she said. Peoples Conference chairman Sajad Lone said that the sequence of events at the Hazratbal shrine is unfortunate. "Using an emblem inside a revered religious shrine is regrettable. It is imperative that we do not allow tempers to flare up. The police should desist from registering an FIR. Meanwhile, Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulema, the biggest conglomerate of religious organisations in J&K headed by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, expressed concern over the recent developments at the shrine. NC spokesman and legislator Tanvir Sadiq said that the Ashoka Chakra emblem of our country is a sign of the unity of our country. "We all respect the emblem and at the same time we also want an action against those who misuse the emblem," Sadiq said. Meanwhile, Lt Governor, Ladakh, and former deputy chief minister Kavinder Gupta demanded strict action against the protesters. "Deeply anguished by the vandalism of the Ashoka Emblem on the renovation plaque at Hazratbal Shrine. The Emblem is the symbol of our sovereignty & national pride. Such acts hurt our national sentiments & will not be tolerated. Strong action will be taken against miscreants," Office of Lt Governor Ladakh wrote on X. BJP spokesman Altaf Thakur demanded strict action against the people who defaced the national emblem....