Srinagar, Oct 15: JKLF Chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik and five of his close associates were taken into preventive custody in Bandipora district of north Kashmir today, official sources said.
Malik, JKLF vice chairman Bashir Ahmad Bhat and four other party leaders were detained by police at Sumbal, 25 kms from here this afternoon, the sources said.
They said the separatist leader, who was on way to Sonawari to address a public meeting, was taken into preventive custody as authorities apprehended law and order problem.
Shoukat Ahmad Bakshi, Sheikh Nazir Ahmad, Mohammad Sidiq and Mohammad Hanief were the others to be detained, the sources said adding they were lodged at Sumbal police station.
Condemning the arrest of the party leaders, a JKLF spokesman said, “The frequent arrest of Malik is unwarranted as our activities are peaceful.” Immediately after the news about the arrest of Malik and his colleagues reached the party headquarters at Maisuma here, groups of youth took to the streets and indulged in stone pelting on police and paramilitary forces.
However, no one was hurt in the clash during which police fired a few teargas shells and used batons to restore law and order, the sources said.
A boy was arrested during the clash, they added.
