|
Srinagar: Three top separatist leaders in Kashmir were placed under house arrest yesterday to prevent them from leading a march to protest alleged assaults on Muslims, police said.
The leaders of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, an alliance of non-violent separatist groups, were detained as a preventive measure, a police officer said on condition of anonymity.
The detained leaders were identified as Syed Ali Shah Gilani, Mirwaiz Omar Farooq and Shabbir Shah.
Thousands of people took to the streets last evening to protest the move. Police used tear gas and batons to control the demonstrators and prevent them from marching on a local UN office.
Prabhakar Tripathi, a spokesman for Central Reserve Police Force said at least five paramilitary soldiers had been injured while trying to check the protests but gave no figures for casualties among the demonstrators. Muslims claim their homes and establishments are being targeted by Hindu mobs in Jammu but security forces are not doing enough to protect them.
Shutdown extended
Meanwhile, the group spearheading the campaign for the restoration of a government order transferring a piece of forest land to the Amarnath shrine trust yesterday called for extending a general shutdown.
The Amarnath Yatra Sangarsh Samiti (AYSS), a conglomerate of more than 30 Hindu groups, said the shutdown would be observed for six more days (till August 14).
Normal life in Jammu has come to a standstill since June 26, when the shutdown was first called and spells of curfew have not helped.
AYSS convenor Leela Karan Sharma told reporters the necessity to "extend the shutdown was felt because the government is deaf and dumb" and has failed to hear the loud and clear sentiments of the people of Jammu for the return of the land". The agitation intensified after the government cancelled its May 26 order transferring some 40 hectares of land to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board on July 1 after the order sparked massive protests in the Muslim-dominated Kashmir Valley.
Meanwhile in Jammu, Lt Gen Vinay Sharma warned the army would deploy in the area and use force if necessary to restore order.
S.M. Sahai, the region's police chief, declined comment on the detentions, but said, "They (separatist leaders) may be pretending to lead peaceful protests, but they actually foment trouble."
Violence over the land transfer order has escalated sharply over the last two weeks and so far six people have been killed in clashes.
The casualties include a Muslim man killed when a tear gas shell hit him while he was participating in protests in Srinagar.
Shops, businesses, government offices and schools remained closed for a fourth day yesterday in Srinagar and authorities deployed hundreds more troops in a city that already has a huge military presence.
Police officer Ramesh Kumar said Jammu had remained relatively calm through the day.
A team of federal government ministers is expected to visit the state today to meet local leaders and try and defuse the tension.
|
