Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 30: In a major crackdown against separatist leaders and their activists ahead of polls, police arrested dozens of them since last night to prevent them from running anti-election campaign.
All the three factions of Separatist Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwiaz Umar Farooq, Shabir Ahmad Shah and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front had called for boycott of the elections. These leaders and activists of these parties were proposing to run anti-election campaign but were arrested ahead of the polls.
The voting for the first phase of polls in on November 25 and the notification has already been issued on October 28.
Police last night raided the houses of senior separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah and his associates Nayeem Ahmad Khan and Moulana Mohammad Tari and arrested them.
Police also arrested Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik and several JKLF leaders and activists. Those arrested include Advocate Basher Ahmad Bhat, Ghulam Rasool Dar Eidi, Mir Siraj-ud-Din Davood, Mohammad Rafiq War, Gulzar Ahmad Bhat Pahalwan, Nazir Ahmad Rather, Mohammad Jammal Dar, Abdul Ahad Ganai, Reyaz Ahmad Gujri, Bashir Ahmad Rather, Mushtaq Ahmad Koreg, Habibullah Dar. The arrest of Malik and JKLF activists led to protests in Maisuma area of Srinagar.
Police also arrested at least three hardline Hurriyat Conference leaders of Syed Ali Shah Geelani faction. They have been identified as Saif-ul-Din Mir Kupwara, Habib-Ullah Kupwara, Mohammad Amin Ahangar Shopian and Mohammad Amin Parray of Shopian.
Police also arrested separatist activists Abdul Ahad Parra, Feroz Ahmad Khan, Bashir Ahmad Wani, Hakeem Showkat, Asadullah Parray and Mairaj Din Nanda during nocturnal raids.
Police also arrested Zaffar Akbar Bhat of Salvation Movement from his residence.
Police had also arrested spokesman of Hurriyat Conference (G), Aiyaz Akbar, three days ago.
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