The J&K government today arrested separatist leader Masarat Alam Bhat in connection with the raising of Pakistani flags during a rally at Srinagar on Wednesday. Government sources confirmed that Bhat has been arrested in the case registered in Budgam police station in connection with the provocative actions during the rally.
Separatist leader, who was placed under house arrest late last night, was arrested from his home in Zaindar Mohalla Tankipora Habbakadal area of the city early this morning and taken to Shaheed Gunj police station in Srinagar.
The arrest comes hours ahead of Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s call for a march to Tral area of Pulwama district where a youth was allegedly killed in cross firing incident between army and militants in the Kamla forest area of Tral in South Kashmir. Almost all separatist leaders including Syed Ali Shah Geelani, have been put under house arrest, in view of the Tral March Call.
Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed while talking to reporters in South Kashmir yesterday had said law will take its own course and if anyone has made a mistake, the law will do its work. The Centre had asked the Jammu and Kashmir government to take strictest possible action against those allegedly involved in anti-national activities during a rally in Srinagar yesterday.
Meanwhile, the administration and police are taking stringent measures not to allow any march to Tral town in order to maintain law and order in the area.