Nearly 300 detained in five days, drive likely to intensify in the region
Around 300 separatist leaders, activists and protesters have been detained as part of an ongoing crackdown ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the state.
The crackdown was launched last week, a day after separatists called for a march and shutdown against the Prime Minister’s visit on Saturday.
The call for the “million march” on Saturday, when the Prime Minister would address a rally at Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium, was made by the hardline separatist faction of Syed Ali Shah Geelani.
The hardline separatist faction had said its march would “in no way” affect the rally of the Prime Minister and those desirous of participating in his rally would not be stopped or hindered.
Another separatist group, the JKLF, had supported Geelani’s call, but appealed for a shutdown as well if the administration imposed restrictions to foil the march.
In the past five days, around 300 separatists, including political leaders and activists, and former protesters, had been detained, police sources said.
The detentions had been made across the Kashmir valley. A majority of the detentions had taken place in Srinagar, where 80 political leaders, workers and former protesters had been detained, the sources said.
The sources said among the detained were 141 persons linked to separatist groups while the rest were former protesters and former militants who were listed as “anti-national elements”.
Inspector General of Police for Kashmir zone SJM Gilani said anyone who the police felt “could create trouble” would be detained.
“The decision is being taken at the district level. Whatever preventive detentions they do on these occasions are being done,” Gilani said.
More detentions are likely to take place as the crackdown is expected to intensify in the region with security agencies implementing multiple measures to secure the rally venue.
The security grid has been put on alert in the region and patrolling has been intensified ahead of the visit to foil protests planned by separatists and thwart any militant attack.
Among those detained so far are the top brass of Geelani’s hardline Hurriyat faction and the leaders of Yasin Malik’s JKLF.
Most senior and mid-rung leaders of other separatist groups, including Asiya Andrabi’s Dukhtaran-e-Millat, have been detained.
