KL Report
SRINAGAR
A complete shutdown is observed in Nowhatta, area of the old city in protest against the arrest of a local teenager on Thursday.
Shops and other business establishment are closed and the traffic is diverted to alternative routes.
The area witnessed a severe stone pelting on Wednesday, afternoon.
The shutdown began after the news of arresting Mustaq Ahmad Sheikh, spread in the area.
Police spokesman confirmed arresting of the youth saying he was wanted in many cases.
“Police arrested Mushtaq Ahmad Sheikh, son of Ghulam Mohi-ul-din Sheikh resident of Nowhatta, who was wanted in a number of cases,” police spokesman said.
Sources said that Mushtaq was detained under Public Safety Act (PSA) in 2010 when he was only fourteen years old and was lodged in a jail outside the valley.
Son of a mistaken identity victim, Mushtaq, has seven sisters. He is the sole bread earner of the ten member family because his father, Mohi-ul-din is a handicapped and could not do anything after he was hit by three bullets in 1996.
Mushtaq was arrested first in the second week of April, 2010 and kept in police custody for eight days. The family alleges that he was severely tortured.
