After hue and cry raised by Indian media and BJP in connection with the unfurling of Pakistani flags during a rally in Srinagar on Wednesday, Peoples Democratic Party led government in Jammu and Kashmir Friday arrested hardline separatist leader Masrat Aalam for his ‘seditious’ activities. After overnight cordon of his house located at Zaindar Mohalla Srinagar, a contingent of Police arrested Masrat Aalam on Friday morning. He was taken to Shaheed Ganj police station after which he was shifted to police station Budgam. Scores of people from Zaindar Mohalla took to streets against the arrest of Masrat Aalam. The protesters marched from the residence of Masrat Aalam and the march culminated peacefully at Habakadal. Talking to reporters, the protesters said that the arrest of Masrat has made it clear that New Delhi and the State Government is scared of the people. They said that waving Pakistani flags is nothing new in Kashmir and they will again unfurl these flags. Amid pro-Pakistan slogans the protesters dispersed peacefully at Habakadal.
Pertinently, people present in Geelani’s rally waved Pakistani flags that invited the wrath of India media. Almost all the Indian news channels highlighted the issue and urged upon the Central Government to arrest Aalam without any delay. Panther’s Party patron Professor Bhim Singh thanked Indian media for making the arrest of Aalam possible without any delay. Taking strong note of the Indian news channel reports, Indian Home Minister had directed Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed to take strict possible action against Masrat Aalam. Sources said that ‘reluctant’ PDP came under pressure from New Delhi and gave its nod to get the Aalam arrested.An official spokesman said that, “on the return of APHC (G) Chairman Syed Ali Geelani from Delhi on Wednesday, the separatist amalgam organized a rally to receive him. In this rally provocative and seditious slogans were raised by the supporters of the group which were led among others by Masrat Aalam.”
Masrat Aalam according to official spokesperson added that, “he himself instigated the crowd by hoisting anti-national flag and shouting pro Pakistan and anti-India slogans. On this case FIR number 92/2015 under section 120B, 147, 341, 336, 427 RPC and 13 Unlawful Activities Prevention Act was registered in police station Budgam and investigation has been taken up.”The Government spokesman said that, “during investigation, the video footage of the incident was examined and it was found that the said individual was involved in leading the crowd to raise anti-national slogans and hoist Pak flags. He himself was found raising such slogans and thereby instigating the crowd to follow him.”“For his seditious activities, Masrat Aalam was arrested on Friday and further investigation is in process,” the government spokesperson added. (CNS)