Reports said police has launched a special drive in south Kashmir to gain control over protesters and a list carrying names of dozens of youths, allegedly involved in stone-pelting, has also been prepared.
Police sources said, “After thorough investigations, it was found that a youth Mufti Wajid Yaqoob was influential in organizing protest demonstrations in Shopian through popular social networking site facebook. He was arrested and shifted to Kathua jail.”
Wajid, a resident of Baba Mohalla, Shopian, is working as a relationship executive in J&K Bank branch, Shopian, and with a degree in computer technology, is counted among the intelligent youths of the town.
The arrest and detention of Wajid under PSA has created a wave of anger among the people of Shopian.
Police has also arrested Farooq Ahmad Dar, son of Manzoor Ahmad Dar of Manloo Shopian; Sheeraz Ahmad Mir, son of Abdul Majeed Mir of New Colony Shopian and Ayaar Ahmad, son of Abdul Gani of Pinjoora Shopian. All of them have been sent to Kathua jail after PSA was slapped on them. Locals said all the arrested youths fall around the age-group of 25.
Family members of Wajid said he was arrested outside the bank when he was returning from a nearby mosque after offering Friday prayers.
“At the time of Wajid’s arrest, protests were going on in the town and police was chasing them away. Police arrested Wajid there only.” they said.
Meanwhile, a youth Adil Ahmad Dar of Gousia Colony, Azad Ganj, Baramulla was arrested by police when he was going for work.
Pertinently, the government had ordered the release of youths detained under PSA in its Unified Headquarters Meeting, held last month. However, arrests have continued both in Srinagar and rural areas of the Valley.
