More than 100 separatist leaders detained in Kashmir

5 Dariya News

Srinagar 23-Feb-2019

More than 100 separatists leader were detained in overnight raids, police officials said on Saturday, as part of a crackdown on groups that might cause trouble ahead of nationwide elections set to be held by May.The Supreme Court will be hearing a number of petitions clubbed together on Monday, with the petitioners challenging Article 35A which creates a distinction in privileges and rights between permanent residents of Jammu & Kashmir and non-resident Indian citizens.The Jamaat issued a statement condemning the detentions and said "...The move is a well designed conspiracy to pave way for further uncertainty in the region."The outfit claimed that during the intervening night of February 22 and February 23, police and other agencies launched a mass arrest drive and raided many houses in the Valley, wherein dozens of its central and district level leaders were arrested, including its Ameer (chief) Jamaat Dr Abdul Hamid Fayaz and advocate Zahid Ali (spokesperson).The Jamaat termed the raids as "fishy" at a time when the Supreme Court is to hear a petition regarding Article 35A of the Constitution"...The way forces personnel unleashed the spree of mass arrest and detained dozens of Jamaat members prior to the hearing seems something is hatching behind the curtains. Any attempt of eroding or tampering Article 35A is unacceptable for people of Jammu and Kashmir," it said.Besides this, police also detained JKLF chief Yaseen Malik on Friday night.The action comes days after an audacious terror attack on a convoy in Pulwama district in which 40 CRPF personnel lost their lives.Reacting to the valley-wide crackdown, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti questioned the legality of the action saying the "arbitrary" move will only "precipitate matters" in the state. "In the past 24 hours, Hurriyat leaders and workers of Jamaat organisation have been arrested. Fail to understand such an arbitrary move which will only precipitate matters in JK," Mehbooba tweeted."Under what legal grounds are their arrests justified? You can imprison a person but not his ideas," she said.Moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq also condemned JKLF chief Yasin Malik's detention and the crackdown on the Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir leadership, saying "force and intimidation" will only "worsen" the situation. (PTK)