Crackdown on Jamaat-e-Islami cadre in Kashmir, top leaders arrested

Ishfaq Tantry
Tribune News Service 
Srinagar, February 23

In a major crackdown against Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) in the Kashmir Valley, dozens of its leaders have been arrested in night long raids by security forces.

The crackdown comes even as authorities late Friday evening also detained JKLF Chief Yasin Malik, with sources indicating that more separatist leaders may be rounded up in coming days. The State government has also requested for deployment of additional Paramilitary Forces in Kashmir on immediate basis. In a communiqué to the MHA the state administration has sought 100 companies of Central armed forces.

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In north, south and central Kashmir, forces carried out nocturnal raids to pick Jamaat leaders and cadre from their residences.A JeI spokesperson confirming the arrests in a statement termed the move a “well-designed conspiracy to pave way for further uncertainty in the region”. 

“During the intervening night of 22-23 February, police and other forces agencies launched mass arrest drive and raided many houses in the Valley wherein dozens of its central and district level leaders have been arrested,” it said.

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.

The Jamaat said that “something seems fishy at this moment when states special position is listed in Supreme Court. Article 35(A) which grants special status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir is being heard within days and the way forces personnel unleashed the spree of mass arrest and detained dozens of Jama’at members prior to the hearing seems something is hatching behind the curtains”.

“Any attempt of eroding or tempering Article 35(A) is unacceptable for people of Jammu and Kashmir,” it added.

Restrictions for Sunday

Authorities in Srinagar have ordered imposition of restrictions under Section 144 of CrPC within the territorial jurisdictions of Khanyar, Rainawari, Nowhatta, Safakadal and MR Gunj police stations of the district on Sunday, February 24.

The restrictions have been imposed as a precautionary measure to avoid any untoward incidents, an official spokesman said.