Kishtwar under curfew after sedition arrests

JAMMU

KISHTWARTOWNINJAMMUWAS putunderindefinitecurfewinthe early hours of Sunday following tension over the arrest of three peoplesaturdaynightonsedition charges.

The trio have been identified as Abdul Qayoom Mattoo, a local Hurriyat leader and Imam of a local mosque; Saifuddin Bhagwan, a member of Majlis-e-shoura — a local group of imams and residents — and another Hurriyat leader Firdous Bhagwan.

The three were among 30 people booked on sedition charges nearly a month ago after they allegedly raised ‘anti-india’ slogans following the death of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter.

Mattoo and Saifuddin have been detained under the Public Safety Act, said SSP Sandeep Wazir. The administration, however, is yet to issue orders for the detention of Firdous under PSA.

Sources said police delayed arresting the accused, even though they had been booked for sedition, in view of the Eid and Machail yatra. Kishtwar is known to be communally-sensitive and police did not want to take chances, said sources.

On Saturday night, a police partyraidedahouseinomarmohalla and arrested Mattoo. Saifuddin and Firdous were arrested from their houses near Kishtwar bus stand. When a police party wenttobanstanmohallatoarrest Qazi Manzoor, the Imam of Banstanjamamasjidwhowasamong thosebookedonseditioncharges, people came out of their houses and started protesting.

Police had to resort to lathicharge and lob teargas shells to disperse the mob, sources said, adding that Manzoor took advantage of the situation and fled.

During the police action, announcements were made through loudspeakers on local mosques, asking people to take part in protests on Sunday. As a precautionary measure, the administration imposed curfew in the town from 4 am, sources said.