Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Mar 31: As crackdown against the stone pelters and those who are inciting people for violence continued, Police last evening arrested a youth in South Kashmir’s Shopian town leading to clashes and shut down.
Police arrested Zubair Ahmad Turray last evening from Shopian market on charges of inciting people to violence. The market today remained closed in the township against his arrest while youth pelted stones on police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) leading to clashes.
Protesters pelted stones on 114th battalion of CRPF camp at Gagran and the ding dong battles continued for several hours in the township. Police charged batons on the protesters and fired tear smoke shells to disperse them.
A PSI, Muzamil Ahmad was beaten up by a mob and he along with two police constables had a narrow escape during protesters this afternoon. They were caught by mob but were rescued by the fellow police men.
Turray was arrested for inciting people for violence in the township and a case was registered (FIR No. 29/2013) against him in Police Station Shopian.
A police officer said that Turray is a wanted stone pelter in over a half a dozen of cases. He said that over the years Turray has been inciting people for violence in the township and adjacent areas.
In the meantime police also arrested one Shakir Ahmad who was wanted by police in a case (FIR 57/2012) registered against him in Police Station Zainapora, Shopian. He was also arrested for inciting people to violence.
And in North Kashmir’s Baramulla town scores of people came out in protest against the arrest of one Javed Ahmad Najjar by police this morning. However, protesters dispersed peacefully after the release of Najjar.
In Srinagar’s old city areas of Saraf Kadal, youth pelted stones on a CRPF camp. The camp has become target of the protesters of late and people of the area demand that the camp be shifted as it has become epicentre of stone pelters.
Around 40 youth who were picked from various parts of Srinagar city are detained in various police stations of Srinagar city. Police sources said that they have prepared dossiers of around half a dozen hard-core stone pelters who will be booked under Public Safety Act (PSA).
Police detained around 400 people including separatist leaders and activists across Kashmir valley during recent agitation in the aftermath of the execution of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru. However, most of them have been released while hard-core are still in police custody.
In the meantime the separatist coordination committee, Muthida Majis Mushawarat (MMM), has called for strike on Saturday to press for the return of mortal remains of Parliament attack convict who was hanged last month and JKLF founder who was executed in 1984 to his family.
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