Yasin Malik arrested in Kashmir

Srinagar, Nov 1 : Separatist leader and chief of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Yasin Malik was arrested in Kashmir on Saturday under Public Security Act.

On Oct 23, Malik had launched his poll boycott campaign from Hajin town in Kashmir asking people to stay away from the assembly polls.

"Putting us in jail cannot kill our spirits. It is a request to my fellow Kashmiris that they should be with this non-violent movement which they have been supporting for the last four months and continue to do so," Malik said.

Meanwhile, protesters demonstrating against the arrest of Malik clashed with police in Srinagar.

Protesters burnt tyres and pelted stones at the police, which resorted to firing to disperse the demonstrators.

Elections have been declared in Jammu and Kashmir and the seven-phase poll will begin from November 17 and end on December 24 to replace the Governor's rule imposed after the Congress party-led coalition government fell in July over Amarnath shrine land transfer row.

All political parties including the National Conference, Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party, Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP) and others are participating in the assembly polls.

However, separatists have said they would urge people to boycott the elections.

Mehbooba Mufti, chief of Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP), said that they were confident of getting a clear mandate in the upcoming state polls.

"There is a feeling among the people of Kashmir that if any party can take out Jammu and Kashmir from all the problems and troubles then that is only Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP)," said, Mufti.

On Tuesday, the PDP had announced its decision to join the forthcoming elections in the state.

PDP says it is participating in the elections as only the people of the state have the right to choose their representatives.

ANI