Shabir Shah, six others arrested in North Kashmir

Srinagar, May 31 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) chief Shabir Ahmad Shah was today arrested along with six others in north Kashmir, official sources said.

They said Mr Shah was taken into preventive custody as he was heading for Handwara where the situation was tense following the death of 22 students in a tragic boat accident yesterday.

A spokesman of the DFP told UNI that Mr Shah had left his Rawalpora residence along with six other leaders for Handwara.

However, after reaching Mirgund, they were taken into custody, he said.

He said Mr Shah was going to Handwara to express his sympathy to the bereaved families whose children had died in the tragedy.

The spokesman said the visit of Mr Shah was not related to any political activity but still he was detained by the police, as a preventive measure.

UNI BAS MSJ GC1225