Jamaat, JKLF chiefs detained, 100 additional paramilitary companies sent to valley

The authorities launched a massive crackdown and detained dozens of Jamaate-islami cadre, including its chief Abdul Hamid Fayaz, in Kashmir valley on Saturday. Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman Yasin Malik was detained by the police in Srinagar on Friday.

Police said that over 150 separatists, mostly Jamaat activists, were arrested from their homes located in different places. The authorities have, however, given no explanation as to why the raids were necessitated. The nocturnal raids were conducted in south, central and north Kashmir districts to detain the senior-most members of the separatist groups.

Meanwhile, on the Jammu and Kashmir government’s request, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has dispatched 100 additional paramilitary companies to the Kashmir valley. In the wake of the Pulwama terrorist attack, the Centre has decided to deploy additional 100 companies of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) on an urgent basis in Jammu and Kashmir, the MHA has said.

In another surprise development, the police zonal headquarters of Kashmir said on Saturday that the Border Security Force (BSF) had been redeployed in Srinagar, for the first time after it was taken off from anti-terrorist operations in Kashmir in 2005. The police further said that the BSF and the Indo-tibetan Border Police (ITBP) companies would be deployed in various areas of Srinagar city.

In a statement, Jamaat said that it seemed that the Central government was going to do something fishy, especially with the special status of the state. The people of Kashmir would resist any such move, it added. Notably, the Supreme Court is expected to hear on Monday the case relating to Article 35A, which provides special privileges and rights to the residents of J&K.

Condemning the arrests, Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said that more