Separatist leader Masarat Alam Bhat, one of the first political prisoners to be released by the Mufti Mohammed Sayeed government, on Wednesday held an anti-India rally in Srinagar. During the rally, he raised the Pakistani flag and allegedly chanted pro-Pakistani slogans.
Separatist leaders Yasin Malik and Masarat Alam Bhat, who were on the way to Tral on Tuesday to join the protest against the encounter of a youth by the security forces, were detained by the police. The two separatist leaders were detained at Awantipora. Malik, who heads the JKLF and Bhat were stopped by police and taken into preventive custody, a police officer said.
The protesters have alleged that the youth was not involved in militancy and was killed by the Army in a fake encounter. The Army, however, has claimed that the slain youth was a militant.
Bhat was released from prison after four years on March 7. Questions are being raised on his release and there are widespread reactions on social media, demanding his re-arrest. Bhat, 47, a likely successor to separatist top gun Syed Ali Shah Geelani, organised Kashmiri youths to pelt stones at security forces and write anti-India graffiti.
Meanwhile, later in the night, the Mufti government received a directive from the MHA to re-arrest Bhat.
Separatist leaders Yasin Malik and Masarat Alam Bhat, who were on the way to Tral on Tuesday to join the protest against the encounter of a youth by the security forces, were detained by the police. The two separatist leaders were detained at Awantipora. Malik, who heads the JKLF and Bhat were stopped by police and taken into preventive custody, a police officer said.
The protesters have alleged that the youth was not involved in militancy and was killed by the Army in a fake encounter. The Army, however, has claimed that the slain youth was a militant.
Bhat was released from prison after four years on March 7. Questions are being raised on his release and there are widespread reactions on social media, demanding his re-arrest. Bhat, 47, a likely successor to separatist top gun Syed Ali Shah Geelani, organised Kashmiri youths to pelt stones at security forces and write anti-India graffiti.
Meanwhile, later in the night, the Mufti government received a directive from the MHA to re-arrest Bhat.