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Pakistan arrests Amanullah Khan

Amanullah Khan, chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, who had vowed to cross the Line of Control, was arrested this afternoon near Hajira in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir along with 60 of his comrades.

After his arrest, Khan told the JKLF workers that the front does not recognise the LoC and that "once I am freed I will make another attempt to cross the LoC".

The arrests were made amidst a cane-charge, bursting of teargas shells and firing in the air.

Khan, who had reached Hajira from Rawalakot last evening, had gone underground in the night, but reappeared in the morning with his party activists to cross the LoC.

As Khan proceeded towards Chakoti, the police used their batons to disperse the activists. Some activists pelted stones at the police, which forced them to use teargas and then fire warning shots in the air.

Later, the processionists were cordoned off by the police.

Khan was also injured in the baton-charge. He was immediately arrested and taken to a police station in Hajira. Because of the worsening situation, shops in the town downed shutters.

The processionists were carrying banners proclaiming 'No Pakistan, no India, we want free Kashmir'.

A JKLF spokesman said nearly 700 party workers passed the night near the LoC. He also claimed that about 20 activists had already crossed the LoC in the night.

UNI

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