Teargas-lathicharge, 50 detained on 24 death anniversary of Maqbool

Srinagar, Feb 11 (UNI) More than 50 activists of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) and other organisations were taken into preventive custody for defying prohibitory orders and taking to streets in the civil lines on the 24th death anniversary of Mohammad Maqbool Bhat.

Bhat, founder leader of the JKLF was hanged to death on this day in Delhi's Tihar jail in 1984.

The JKLF activists took to streets at Maisuma, the front headquarter, raising pro-freedom and Maqbool Bhat slogans.

After marching through Budshah chowk and old KMDA bus stand, the processionists were stopped by police at Moulana Azad road near here.

However, when they insisted that they should be allowed to proceed towards United Nations Military Observers (UNMO) office at Sonawar, police resorted to lathi charge to disperse them.

Later, about 30 activists, including Bashir Ahmad Bhat and other senior leaders were taken into custody and lodged in Kothibagh police station.

Earlier, police fired a tear-smoke shell and resorted to lathi charge to disperse the mob, hurling stones on passing vehicles at Budshah chowk. Window panes of about half a dozen vehicles were damaged.

About 20 activists of JKDLP were also taken into custody at Rajbagh when they tried to take out a procession.

Later, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and police personnel were deployed in strength at Maisuma, Budshah Chowk, Moulana Azad road, Red Cross road and Gaw Kadal to prevent any untoward incident.

On February 9, Hurriyat Conference (Mirwaiz) presented a memorandum to UNMO officials in which it was demanded that world body should ask India to handover the remains of JKLF founder leader Bhat.

They also demanded that UN should immediately intervene and force India and Pakistan to implement the resolution passed by the world body more than 60 years ago on Kashmir.

It also highlighted the Human Rights (HR) violations being committed by the security forces in the state.

Similar demands had earlier been made by JKLF and other separatist organisations.

UNI BAS LPB DS1357