J&K leader Yasin Malik, two others detained in Srinagar

Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik and two other leaders of the separatist outfit were detained on Friday as they tried to take out a protest rally from Maisuma locality in Srinagar triggering brief clashes with police.

Malik, Noor Mohammad Kalwal and Mohammad Ahraf were detained by police as they were leading a group of JKLF activists in protest march towards local office of UN Military Observers Group at Sonawar, a senior police official said.

He said police action was necessitated as Section 144 CrPC was in force in the city and the organisers of the rally had not sought permission for it from the concerned authorities.

JKLF had organised a protest rally on the eve of the 28th death anniversary of Mohammad Maqbool Bhat, a founding member of the party, to demand return of his mortal remains for burial.

Bhat was hanged on February 11, 1984, after he was sentenced to death in a murder case and was buried in the premises of Tihar jail in Delhi.

Police used batons to disperse the other protestors, which led to clashes between the two sides.

The clashes led to stone-pelting by a group of youth from the interiors of Maisuma, prompting the police to fire tear smoke shells, the official said.

He said one policeman was injured in the clashes, which led to shutdown of the market in Maisuma and adjoining areas.

JKLF has called for a general strike on Saturday which has been supported by both factions of Hurriyat Conference.