18 Hurriyat leaders arrested

The police on Thursday arrested 18 All Party Kashmir Hurriyat Conference leaders for violating prohibitory orders near the army headquarters at Batwara in the Kashmir valley.

The leaders, including Abdul Ghani Lone, Mohammad Yasin Malik, Javed Ahmad Mir, Mohammad Yaqub Vakil, Ghulam Nabi Sumbji and Qazi Ahadullah were arrested while they were staging a dharna in front of the army headquarters against the alleged excesses by troops in the valley.

The leaders demanded an immediate end to alleged custodial killings, torching of homes, rape and harassment of women.

The arrested have been lodged at the Kothi Bagh police station.

Meanwhile, a defence ministry spokesman said security forces killed a militant at Anantnag during search operations on Wednesday evening.

UNI