14 injured in Srinagar protests against Kashmiri leader’s arrest

SRINAGAR: At least 14 people were injured Friday when Indian police baton charged protestors in Srinagar demonstrating against the arrest of a pro-independence Kashmiri leader, Indian media reported.

According to India media reports, clashes erupted in Srinagar in protest of the arrest of Masarat Alam, with Indian police resorting to baton charge and tear gas shelling to disperse protestors.

Hurriyat leader Masarat Alam was arrested today for leading an anti-India protest earlier in the week where demonstrators raised pro-Pakistan slogans and waved the Pakistani flag.

Two other top Hurriyat leaders, Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, were placed under house arrest.

The rally was taken out on Wednesday as a show of solidarity and strength against Indian occupation and to welcome Hurriyat leader Ali Geelani on his return from New Delhi, was attended by thousands.

Alam, who is a likely successor to Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani and had organized the rally, bore and waved the Pakistani flag as he cheered for Geelani. A number of attendees, including Masarat Alam, were rounded up for chanting slogans in Pakistan’s favour and waving its flag in the air.

Alam was released from prison on March 7 after spending four years in jail.