Srinagar: Reiterating that stone pelting will not be tolerated, a top police officer on Wednesday said that 39 protestors were arrested for indulging in a stone pelting incident in downtown Srinagar on March 4.
He said of these, 15 will be booked under Public Safety Act (PSA). “Pelting of stones will not be allowed at any cost. We have arrested 39 persons who indulged in the act in Srinagar. As many as 15 of them will be booked under the PSA, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir, Vijay Kumar told reporters during a press conference here on Wednesday.
A protest broke out on Friday after moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Maulvi Umer Farooq, who is also chief cleric of Kashmir, was not released from house arrest and stopped from leading the prayers at Jamia Masjid. Later, scores of youth, raising ‘pro-freedom’ slogans, clashed with security forces.
Mirwaiz remained under house arrest since August 5, 2019, when centre abrogated Article 370 and Article 35 A, besides divided J&K into two Union Territories. But, hundreds of people had gathered at the mosque to offer Friday prayers after it was reported by many media outlets that Mirwaiz will be released and allowed to attend the congregation.
