Massive crackdown on Hurriyat, Jamaat leaders in Kashmir

Srinagar, Feb 23: Ahead of the hearing of Article 35-A, major crackdown has been launched against Hurriyat leaders and Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) in the Valley as dozens of its leaders have been arrested in noctural raids by government forces.
JKLF chief Yasin Malik was arrested from his house during a late night surprise raid by police while a dozen of Jamaat leaders including its chief Dr Hameed Fayaz have also been arrested.
In north, south Kashmir and central Kashmir, forces carried out nocturnal raids to pick Jamaat leaders and cadre from their residence, a Jamaat spokesman said here.
The Jamaat in a statement termed the move a “well-designed conspiracy to pave way for further uncertainty in the region”.
Those detained including Ameer Jama’at Dr Abdul Hamid Fayaz, Advocate Zahid Ali (spokesperson), Ghulam Qadir Lone (former secretary general), Abdur Rouf (Ameer Zila Islamabad), Mudasir Ahmad (Ameer Tehsil Pahalgam), Abdul Salam (Dialgam), Bakhtawar Ahmad (Dialgam), Mohammad Hayat (Tral), Bilal Ahmad (Chadoora), Ghulam Mohammad Dar (Chak Sangran) and dozens more, it said. (KNS)