Valley agitated over arrest of Masarat Alam; protesters clash with police in Srinagar

Srinagar, Apr 17: Hours after police arrested Separatist leader Masarat Alam for making anti-India statements in a rally, another Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq led protest march in Srinagar's Nowhatta on Friday.

The separatist was leading a protest march to Tral which was stalled by the police. Following this clashes erupted on the streets of Srinagar after agitators, demanding their leader's release and protesting over other issues, pelted stones over Jammu and Kashmir police. Around 14 policemen were injured in the pelting of stones. [Masarat Alam arrested from residence]

Cops had to resort to lathicharge and lob tear gas shells to disperse the protesters.

Protesters, reportedly, even clashed with the policemen at several places demanding release of Masarat Alam. They are claiming that Masarat's arrest was unlawful.

Meanwhile, Farooq also told media persons, "We are going to register strong protest today, will demand inquiry in Tral encounter, time has come for AFSPA to go."

He also accused the Mufti Government in the state of surrendering before the BJP's pressure.

Earlier in the day, Hurriyat Hardliner Masarat Alam was arrested from his residence in Kashmir for raising anti-national slogans and raising Pak flags during a rally in Srinagar on Wednesday.

Earlier Alam, along with Syed Ali Shah Geelani were placed under house arrest, just before their scheduled rally at Tral town in south Kashmir's Pulwama district.

Cases had been registered against Geelani, Bhat and Peer Saifullah under section 13 of UAPA, police said. Meanwhile, the Hurriyat Hardline Conference said that they will not be bogged down by such actions.

In a statement, the unit said," We condemn the registration of an FIR against Hurriyat leaders in strongest terms. We will not be cowed down by such actions. If seeking the right to freedom is a crime, then we will continue doing such things and no power on the earth can prevent us.

The registration of a case exposes the assertion of (Chief Minister) Mufti Mohammad Sayeed that it is the battle of ideas. His government could not bear even a single peaceful rally organized by Hurriyat."

OneIndia News