Srinagar, Jan 31: The arrest of a teenage student sparked off massive protests in south Kashmir’s Shopian town on Monday, a local news agency PBI said.
 Zuhaib, 18, son of Muhammad Yusuf Najar of Baba Mohalla, according to the news agency, was arrested by police from Bon Bazar this morning. 
 Zuhaib, student of 12th class was taken to the nearby police station. He was arrested for his alleged involvement in stone pelting, the PBI said.
 “Zuhaib is a student, not a stone pelter. He was never involved in stone pelting. It seems police has been misled to implicate the innocent student in a fake case,” the news agency quoted one of Zuhaib’s relative as having said.
 As the news of Zuhaib’s arrest spread in the area, scores of people, mainly youth took appeared at Main Chowk and staged anti-government demonstrations. Chanting slogans, the people were protesting against the ‘unwarranted’ arrest of the youth. The shopkeepers also downed their shutters to protest the police action.
 Late evening, clashes broke out between angry protesters and the police.
 Meanwhile police, according to locals, also arrested Wasim Ahmed Malik son of Muhammad Akbar Malik of Pinjoora, Ashiq Pal son of Nazir Ahmed of Shrimal, Ejaz Ahmed Dar son of Ghulam Mohiuddin Dar and Mushtaq Ahmed Shi son of Manzoor Ahmed of Nagbal Zainapora during raids.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 31 Jan 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 31 Jan 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 1 Feb 2011 00:00:00 IST