INDIAN FORCES ARREST 160 SEPARATISTS IN KASHMIR CRACKDOWN
SRINAGAR— Indian troops and police have detained more than 160 separatist leaders and activists, mainly from the Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami, in two successive nights of raids in disputed Kashmir, and placed new curbs on people’s movements.
The clampdown in towns and villages followed the suicide car bombing that killed 40 Indian paramilitary police in a convoy on Feb. 14 claimed by another group, the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed.
Election security
Police say they are rounding up separatists to head off trouble ahead of a general election that must be held by May.
Authorities overnight detained 60 more people from the Jamaat-e-Islami, besides more than 100 held the previous night, said a senior police officer who asked not to be identified.
“Since Jamaat-e-Islami has a wider network across Kashmir and they are mobilizing anti-India protests, their arrest could help in curbing such protests ahead of elections,” he told Reuters.
Separatists called for a strike to protest the detentions and the crackdown and many shops, gas stations and businesses closed, with fewer people and vehicles on the streets.
Civil restrictions
In some areas of Srinagar, the government clamped down on the movement of people and vehicles.
“The restrictions have been imposed as a precautionary measure to avoid any untoward incident,” police said in a statement.
Indian paramilitary troops in riot gear arrived in strength at first light, said Shakeel Ahmad, a resident of Nowhatta in the Srinagar district.
“At places, they have blocked the main roads with steel barricades and concertina wire,” he said.