Srinagar, Monday, 28 April 2014 : Police have arrested over 500 youth across Kashmir valley, to prevent them from pro freedom protests. According to police officials, 70 youths have been arrested in Islamabad, Pulwama, Shopian, Awantipora and Kulgam areas while 400 youths in Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderble and around 60 youths from North Kashmir.
Police have so far arrested 70 youth clashing with Indian froces and police personnel in South Kashmir with 25 arrests made in Pulwom, 9 in Shopian, 12 in Auentpur, 13 in Kulgam and 11 in Islamabad district,” the press release of Police said. “Further arrests are expected in coming days as more stone pelters who have already been identified are yet to be arrested,” it said. Four hunderd have been arrested in Central Kashmir and around 60 in north Kashmir,” the statement said.
Sources told CNS that amid crackdown on protesters all around Srinagar city, Ganderbal and Budgam, foolproof security arrangements have been put in place to thwart any kind of protests. Barricades, concertina wire and mobile bunkers have been erected at different places while night patrolling has been increased in volatile and restive parts of the Central Kashmir. A police official said that every possible step is being taken to maintain law and order. “We are monitoring the situation through CCTV cameras and large number of policemen are also doing rounds in civvies,” he said. On Monday police and CRPF personnel were seen busy in frisking and checking identity cards of the commuters while at different places private and public vehicles were stopped and checked thoroughly.
Reports said that dozens of bikes were seized by police near Jahangir Chowk, Dalgate, Poloview and other parts of the city without any rehyme.
Meanwhile police have arrested scores of pro-freedom activists in Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal districts. Police Monday arrested several activists of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, Hurriyet leaders and activists including Shabir Ahmad Shah, Zaffar Akbar Bhat, Mukhtar Ahmad Waza, Nayeem Ahmad Khan, Firdous Ahmad Shah, JKLF leader, Ashraf Bin Salam Muhammad Imran and others while distributing election boycott posters among people.
Reports said that at least 15 youth were arrested by police during nocturnal raids in Brein Nishat and its adjacent area’s like Manzgam, New Colony, Pohlu and Dangarmull.Sources said that police is calling each and every alleged protester or stone-pelter to police stations and detaining them. “We don’t want to take any chances. All these detained stone-pleters would be released once elections are over,” a police official claimed.
Jammu and Kashmir police on Monday detained four persons in connection with Sunday’s Magam grenade explosion in Budgam district. Official sources said Lateef Sheikh, Farooq Dar, Wali Muhammad Sheikh, who is a government teacher were detained and are being questioned. The three detained hail from Cherpora Beerwah in the district. The fourth one was identified as Nazir Ahmad Rather, who is a resident of Gotepora in Beerwah.
Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front Chairman, Mohammad Yasin Malik who was arrested 12 days earlier has been detained in police station Kothi Bagh while Chairman of Tehreek-e-Hurriyet, Syed Ali Gilani, is also undergoing house detention since he arrived from New Delhi on April 16.
Pertinently, Hurriyat leaders, held many rallies appealing people to boycott the ongoing Indian Lok Sabha elections in Kashmir.