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Saturday, Sep 16, 2006
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Malik, 110 others held

Shujaat Bukhari

Police wanted to disturb court arrest programme: JKLF

SRINAGAR: The police on Friday took into custody Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chairmanYasin Malik along with 110 others when the JKLF was planning to court arrest in protest against "increasing violations of human rights in Kashmir."

Geelani under house arrest

The head of the hardline Hurriyat Conference faction Syed Ali Geelani was also put under house arrest.

Mr. Malik told The Hindu over phone from Handwara that he was arrested along with lawyers, students and traders when he was addressing a gathering of people after Friday prayers.

"Police beat up people"

"The police and CRPF ruthlessly beat up people," who were assembling at Handwara. This was a bid to disturb the JKLF's planto launch the programme of courting arrest. "Many of them were injured."

Eighty-five JKLF activists, led by general secretary Ghulam Rasool Dar, were not allowed to court arrest by the police, who, however, used force to disperse the gathering, Mr. Malik said.

When contacted, a police officer, however, said the JKLF activists courted arrest and were not arrested.

The JKLF organised a daylong hunger strike on September 12 and from Friday its activists were supposed to court arrest in phases in major townships in the Valley.

On the house arrest of Mr. Geelani at Hyderpora, Hurriyat spokesman Ayaz Akbar said police personnel were deployed outside. "A police officer informed Geelani Saheb that he had been put under house arrest and he cannot go out till further orders." The leader was scheduled to address a Friday congregation at Hajin, Mr. Akbar said.

However, a news agency said Mr. Geelani was put under arrest to prevent him from organising a protest against the reported statement of Pope Benedict XVI against Prophet.

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