Separatists put Srinagar on the boil, J&K govt says will act
17 Apr 2015
Supporters of Kashmiri separatist Masarat Alam who raised Pakisant flag during a protest march today took to streets throwing stones at police and igniting petrol bombs, following a crackdown by authorities on separatist leaders.
Police had to fire tear gas and use batons to disperse hundreds of people who gathered after Friday prayers in Srinagar to protest the arrests of the leaders and the killing of the youth, a militant commander's brother, earlier this week.
Several protesters and police were injured in the clashes, police said.
Jammu and Kashmir deputy chief minister Nirmal Singh today said it was "nothing new" and the situation will be brought back to normalcy.
"These things do take place. All things will be controlled. Situation would be brought back to normalcy," Singh told reporters today.
He was replying to queries about recent events that took place in Kashmir Valley.
Separatists led by Syed Ali Shah Geelnai and Masarat Alam Bhat took out a rally in Srinagar in which Pakistani flags were waived and pro-Pakistan slogans were raised.
Later, JK Police booked Masarat under UAPA and put him and Geelani in house arrest last night. Masart was arrested today.
The separatists were also planning to take out a rally in Tral area of Pulawana district in protest against death of two youth in Army operation.
Singh said that it is the job of the police to deal with the situation and restore normalcy.
BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav also said that the incidents are "nothing new".
"Police will deal with the situation to bring back normalcy. These incidents are nothing new," he said.
On the allegations of delay in the arrest of Alam, Madhav said that police have taken appropriate action by arresting him and whatever was needed has been done.
"What acts have been slapped against him is the job of the police. Union home minister Rajnath Singh talked to the chief minister about the delay in the arrest. But now the arrest has taken place the issue ends here".
