Srinagar: Mohammad Yasin Malik, Chairman of the JKLF was detained by the police in Shopian after he tried to lead a protest march against the murders of three youth by the Army.
A soon as Malik was detained, clashes erupted in the besieged district.
Witnesses said that Malik was taken into custody after he came out of Jamia Masjid and tried to lead a protest. He was lodged in police station Shopian. Soon after Malik was detained by the police, scores of youth pelted forces with stones, said the witness.
The forces responded by firing tear gas to disperse the protesters.
The Joint Resistance Leadership had given a call for Shopian March on Friday. Malik, in order to evade arrest had gone into hiding and managed to reach Shopian. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the Chairman of Hurriyat (M), tried to defy his house arrest in a bid to reach Shopian, however, he was detained outside his home.
Syed Ali Geelani, chief of Hurriyat (G) continues to remain under house arrest.
Three youth were killed by the Army recently in Ganowpura area. The Army said that they fired in self defence when they were provoked to the ‘ultimate’ by a stone pelting crowd.
The Police has registered an FIR of Murder, Attempt to Murder, and Endangering Life against the Army. The BJP had demanded that the FIR against the Army should be withdrawn and a new one be lodged without naming anyone.
However the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said that the investigation in the case would be take to its logical conclusion.
A BJP leader Subramanian Swamy threatened Mehbooba Mufti to withdraw the FIR against the Army otherwise her government will be toppled.
