KASHMIR NEWS OBSERVER
The crackdown on youth allegedly involved in ‘unlawful’ activities continues in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district while during fresh night raids, at least 21 persons including a 65 years old elderly man were arrested from Muran and Kungan villages of the district. The elderly man detained by police has been identified as Abdul Rahim Sheikh of Muran village.
Sources said that from past two weeks more than 86 persons mostly school and college going students have been arrested and are languishing in different detention centres of the district. Sources added that these arrests are being made to ensure incident free polling in the district. The elections for South Kashmir parliamentary seat are scheduled on April 12 next month.
Locals told news agency CNS that government forces raided different houses during late night hours in twin villages of Muran and Kungan in the district and arrested 16 persons from Muran and 5 from Kungan village. These night raids according to locals created panic in these areas while a large number of people hit to roads shortly after these raids. Reports said that scores of people were seen making rounds of police station in Pulwama seeking release of these arrested youth. “They are mostly students,” said a local from Naira village where police recently during a nocturnal raid had arrested 21 college going students.
Reports said that Muran and Kungan villages observed a complete shutdown against these raids and arrests. All the shops, educational institutions and business establishments remained shut in these twin areas. Reports added that more than 80 youths from different villages of the district including Muran, Kungan, Naira, Drubgam, Karimabad have been languishing in police stations. A police official said the arrested youth are involved in stone-pelting incidents.