Shabir Shah taken into preventive custody

Police on Tuesday took into preventive custody Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party president Shabir Shah for trying to take out a procession in violation of prohibitory orders in Srinagar, official sources said.

The separatist leader was leading the procession towards the local office of the United Nations Military Observers group at Sonawar from his Rajbagh headquarters when the police intercepted him, the sources said.

The marchers, who were chanting pro-freedom slogans, were lathicharged when they refused to disperse, the sources said.

Twelve other JKDFP members, including vice-president Moulana Abdullah Tari, were also taken into preventive custody and lodged at Rajbagh Police Station.

The attempt to take out the procession coincided with the 'Kashmir Day' being observed in Pakistan on Wednesday.

A spokesman of the JKDFP condemned the police action and said several people were injured in the lathi-charge.