Govt cracks whip, 6 BJP activists arrested in Srinagar...

Rameez Bhatt:

Srinagar: In an apparent bid to foil Bharatiya Janta Party’s (BJP) flag hoisting plan, police arrested six of the party activists from Barbarshah area of city, here. Reliable sources told Kashmir Express that a police team last evening arrested six activists of the youth wing of the right wing party from Barbarshah areas of the city when they were raising party flags.

 The arrested BJYM activists, most of them from Srinagar city were detained at Kralkhud police station.

In a statement issued here, the Police said that they have arrested six persons, belonging to a political party, from Lal Chowk area for violating prohibitory orders, which were put in place by the authorities.

Sources said a group of BJYM activists last night appeared at BarbarShah locality and started raising party flags and bunting. The activists also pasted posters on the wall and electric poles seeking public support in making the Lal Chowk programme a success.

In the meantime, a police party reached the spot and detained six of the party activists. They have been identified as Mushtaq Dar, son of Ghulam Mohammad of Soura, Showkat Ahmad, son of Ghulam Mohmmad Mir of Nowgam, Verinag, Waseem Hussain, son of Ghulam Hassan Bhat of Qamarwari, Imtiyaz Sheikh, son of Noor Mohammad Sheikh of Kalamdanpora, Manzoor Ahmad, son of Ali Mohammad Bhat of Lal Bazar and Hilal Mir, son of Abdul Majid Mir of Basant Bagh, the sources added.

Police has also confiscated some posters from their possession, the police statement read further.

It is pertinent to say that an official press release by the government without referring specifically to the BJP's flag on Thursday read, "During a meeting chaired by chief minister, Omar Abdullah, he directed the civil and police authorities to ensure that all measures are taken to ensure that the law and order in the state is not disturbed in the run up to the Republic Day celebrations."

BJP's youth wing is planning to hoist the Indian flag at Lal chowk in Srinagar on January 26.

"Tiranga yatra' which was kicked off from Kolkata earlier this month is scheduled to reach here on January 26 and hoist the flag.