Clashes erupted in Maisuma and its adjacent areas after police arrested Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front Chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik on Saturday. Malik was released on Friday night but was re-arrested on Saturday morning. Malik alleged that a large contingent of police including Special Operation Group personnel raided his Maisuma based house and tried to arrest him during the middle of the night. “They (Police) resorted to hooliganism. What kind of Justice it is that I was released on Friday evening by the police and the same police raided my house on the same night to arrest me? This government wants to silence and harass us but it should understand that such tactics will have serious ramifications,” Malik told reporters shortly before his arrest.Malik while addressing news conference alleged that during nocturnal raid police not only resorted to hooliganism but also fired tear-smoke shells to silence the protesting people. He said that this government has broken all the records of suppression and oppression. “If the government wanted to arrest me then why I was released. This is really a police state,” Malik said.
Reports said that during the nocturnal raid the protesters foiled the attempt of police to get Malik arrested. However, a large contingent of police emerged in Maisuma shortly after Malik addressed the press conference. Witnesses said there was scuffle between some police officials and Malik. The detention of Malik sparked violent protests in the area while groups of youth resorted to stone-pelting prompting police to seal the area.Reports said that clashes between protesters and police created panic in the area while shopkeepers observed complete shutdown against the police action. All the shops and other business establishments remained shut in Maisuma, city centre Lal Chowk, Budshah Chowk, Kokar Bazar, Amira Kadal, Basant Bagh and its adjacent areas. Police laid concertina wire to restrict the movement of the people. (CNS)