Violence rocks Kashmir as police arrest Syed Ali Shah Geelani

A fresh wave of violence was sparked in Srinagar on Wednesday after police took separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who had called for a Kashmir shutdown, into preventive custody.

The Hurriyat hardliner was shifted from his Hyderpora residence to Humhama Police Station in central Budgam. Geelani had planned to offer Eid prayers at the Hazratbal dargah to ratify the five conditions he has set for the Centre to review the ongoing agitation.

“Geelani’s programmes could have disturbed public order. Considering the adverse impact his actions would have had, were arrested him,” a police spokesman said.

Geelani had issued a statement on Tuesday that New Delhi would “regret its decision forever” and should be ready to face an “unimagined stir” if it did not accept his five conditions to start a dialogue.

The terms are acceptance of Kashmir as an international dispute, demilitarisation, release of political prisoners and arrested protesters, withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act and Public Safety Act and trial of “war criminals” who, he said, killed 69 innocent Kashmiris.

As news of his arrest spread in Srinagar, hundreds of youths took to the streets and pelted stones at Behama Chowk in Ganderbal, Main Chowk in Sopore, Habak crossing and Subzi Mandi Soura in Srinagar and Galwanpora Hyderpora in Budgam.

Police opened fire to quell the protests in which a youth was injured. “When the mob did not relent and continued throwing stones and bricks, police had to pellet guns,” a spokesman said.
Police said a group of miscreants resorted to pelting stones near SDA complex at Bemina.

The mob torched a truck before it was chased away by police using mild lathi charge and tear smoke shells, the spokesman said.

Meanwhile, restrictions have been placed in south Kashmir’s Anantnag and Bijbehara towns and  north Kashmir’s Kangan town. Shops, educational institutions, banks and post offices remained shut and public and private transport off roads in Srinagar.