JKLF chief detained, supporters clash with forces

Angry over the detention of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman Mohammad Yaseen Malik and other leaders, supporters of the separatist outfit took to streets and clashed with police in Srinagar this evening.

The clash took place at Maisuma, the headquarters of JKLF, which was virtually sealed by police and paramilitary forces since early today.

JKLF had called for a general strike to observe the death anniversary of its founder Mohammad Maqbool Bhat and had also planned a march.

Chanting pro-freedom slogans, groups of youth appeared on the Maisuma bund and indulged in stone-pelting at police and paramilitary forces, which led to policemen firing teargas shells and using batons to disperse them.

The clash in the area was still continuing when last reports were received but there was no report of any casualty.

Barring the clash in the sensitive locality, the strike remained peaceful as authorities had deployed thousands of police and paramilitary forces across the city to maintain law and order, the sources said.

Malik was taken into preventive custody from his Maisuma residence early today, while a dozen senior party activists were detained while trying to take out a procession from Abi Guzar locality in defiance of the prohibitory orders in force in the city.