Srinagar, Dec. 29 -- The authorities in Kashmir foiled the sit-in protest of open-merit students and job aspirants planned in Srinagar demanding rationalisation of reservation policy after putting Srinagar Member of Parliament (MP) Aga Ruhullah Mehdi, who was expected to lead the protest, and other political and student leaders allegedly under house arrest and deploying heavy security in the city centre, the leaders said on Sunday. Ruhullah, who is a senior National Conference leader, on Saturday announced that he will join the students outside CM Omar Abdullah's residence for the protest like last year as he wanted the elected government to "apprise the students of the measures and decisions taken to resolve this issue" amid continuous issuance of job notifications while the reservation file submitted by cabinet sub committee is pending with LG office. The protesters have been seeking a rationalisation of the amended job reservation policy introduced by lieutenant governor-led administration last year which had squeezed the general category to below 40% in jobs and admissions, which form the majority of the population. There was heavy deployment of security forces at Polo View while the Sheri Kashmir Park in Lal Chowk was locked to prevent a congregation of protesters and leaders at the start point. During the night, police were deployed outside the residence of Mehdi and other leaders to allegedly prevent them from joining the protests. Opposition PDP leaders Waheed Para and Iltija Mufti, who had also joined the protest last year, were also put under "house arrest". "Police has officially informed Mehdi that he has been placed under house arrest and is barred from stepping outside...," said the office of Mehdi in post on X....