April 06
Amid a high intensity crackdown on pro Freedom activists and religious groups in Kashmir, the Government Forces conducted a nocturnal raid in Budgam’s Lalgam area on Friday night and arrested at least five persons.
Sources informed The Kashmiriyat that late night on Friday Forces including the Jammu Kashmir Police barged into several households in Budgam’s Lalgam and arrested at five persons who have been identified as Irfan Ahmad Thoker, Umar Farooq Dar, Mohammed Maqbool Ganaie, Arsalan Mushtaq Ahangar and Mohammed Shafi Bhat.
The Indian Government has started a massive crackdown against religious and political outfits in Kashmir since October last year which intensified after the Pulwama attack on February 14 when a local Pulwama boy rammed his car into a CRPF convoy killing 49 of their men.
Various religious clerics have been barred from leading Friday prayers at various places in South Kashmir including the Shopian and Pulwama districts and after the Pulwama attack, Jamaat e Islami was banned by the Indian Home ministry.
Last week the Government also banned Yasin Malik’s JKLF.
At least 200 pro Freedom activists were arrested, most of whom have been released, many including the chairman of JKLF, Mohammed yasin Malik have been booked under Public Safety Act (PSA).
Also, prominent religious cleric, Mushtaq Ahmed Veeray, Aijaz Ahmed Noori of Pulwama have been also booked under PSA.