KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
Nowhatta and adjoining areas of old city Saturday observed a shutdown against the overnight arrests of young boys by the police. Reports said that police raided few households during the dead of night and dragged many youths out of their homes. There were reports of clashes as well.
Pertinently, on the previous day, after the Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid at Nowhatta, a group of masked youth had unfurled posters supportive of Hizb commander Burhan Wani sending the security apparatus into tizzy.
Wani who has emerged a poster boy of new militancy is employing novel method of inviting new recruits through video appeals. Eye-witnesses said police picked up young boys suspected of being involved with the incident of hoisting banners. Locals alleged that when parents put up resistance to the arrests, they too were bundled up in the police vans.
When Kashmir Life reached the SP North, Shafqat Hussain for the comment, he declined to divulge details citing unfamiliarity to the reporter.
Wani had released a video message that went viral on the social media asking J&K police, whom he addressed as “our own” to side with “us.” He also laid out his plans to establish J&K as Islamic Caliphate as protect the “chastity of our mothers and sisters.”