Around one dozen Hurriyat leaders arrested during night-long raids in Kashmir

Srinagar: After withdrawing security and other facilities to separatist leaders, security forces in a major crack down arrested dozens of Hurriyat Conference (HC) leaders and Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) chief and spokesperson, during night-long raids across the Kashmir valley, official sources said on Saturday morning.

Meanwhile, situation is very tense in the Kashmir valley, including summer capital, Srinagar, where rumours are being spread about the Article 35-A, 370 and health condition of Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) chief Shabir Ahmad Shah currently lodged in Delhi's Tihar jail after his arrest by Enforcement Directorate (ED) and National Investigation Agency (NIA) last year.

Official sources said the arrests of HC and JeI leaders were made as a precautionary measure to prevent any law and order problem.However, a JeI spokesman said security forces and state police personnel raided a number of places in the Kashmir valley and arrested senior state and district leaders.

He said those arrested included JeI chief (Ameer) Dr Abdul Hamid Fayaz, spokespersons Advocate Zahid Ali, former secretary general Ghlam Qadir Lone and dozens of other leaders in the valley.

Condemning the arrest of JeI chief and other leaders, spokesman said the move seems a  well designed ploy and that there was something fishy when the state's special position is listed in Supreme Court. 

However, he said any attempt of eroding or tempering Article 35-A is unacceptable for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. 

After the Pulwama attack by Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) fidayeen Adil, who rammed a RDX laden explosive vehicle into a CRPF bus in which over 44 CRPF personnel were killed on February 14, state government withdrew security and other facilities to separatist leaders on the direction by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

Security of some leaders of mainstream parties has been withdrawn or downgraded in the state.(UNI)