Srinagar, Sep 23: Police have launched crackdown on youth allegedly involved in “stone-pelting” during recent protests that erupted across the Kashmir valley following the blasphemous film made in US.

SRINAGAR
 Police is using video footage and photographs taken by undercover cops for arresting the youth. Police have so far arrested seven youth and are hunting for 17 more. “We have arrested seven youth and are looking for 17 others,” a top police official in Srinagar told Greater Kashmir on the basis of anonymity. “We are actively hunting for them. Hopefully we will arrest them in a day or two.”
 The top police official said that among the wanted youth, most are involved in setting ablaze a vehicle that belonged to the Municipality of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district. “The vehicle was Tuesday set ablaze near the official residence of the Deputy Chief Minister who is also incharge Housing and Urban Development Department,” he said and added that the protesting youth who torched the vehicle had come from old city. The official said that the list of wanted youth have been handed over to police officials in old Srinagar. “They are nabbing them and are handing them over to the police jurisdiction of East Srinagar,” he said and added the accused youth will be dealt according to law. “There is no concession to youth who are involved in disruption of peace,” he said.
 The police official said that they are conducting night raids in old Srinagar areas including Nowhatta, Khanyar and adjoining areas to pick up the youth involved in “stone-pelting” incidents.
 Pertinently, curfew-like restrictions were imposed in six police station areas of old Srinagar Friday following violent clashes on last Tuesday.
 Senior police officers in Ganderbal and Budgam said that they are not hunting for any youth. “In our districts, people held peaceful protests. Nobody is wanted,” the senior police officers of both districts told Greater Kashmir.

SOUTH KASHMIR
 In Islamabad (Anantnag) district of south Kashmir, police has so far detained seven youth for stone-pelting and street protests. “We have arrested seven youth and have registered cases against them,” Deputy Inspector General (DIG) police south Kashmir Vijay Kumar told Greater Kashmir. “Further information can be had from district SSPs.”
 A middle rung police official in south Kashmir told Greater Kashmir on the basis of anonymity that around more that 20 youth are wanted by police in Islamabad (Anantnag) district. “We have identified them from video footage,” he said. “In Pulwama, Shopian and Kulgam districts some youth are wanted for stone-pelting and disruption of peace,” he said.

NORTH KASHMIR
 In Baramulla, the police have so far arrested 17 youth and are now hunting for around a dozen for alleged stone-pelting and protests. “We have arrested 17 youth for violence,” a senior police official in Baramulla told Greater Kashmir on the basis of anonymity. “We are looking for a dozen more,” he added.
 In Bandipora, Sopore, Kupwara and Handwara no youth has been so far arrested.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 23 Sep 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 23 Sep 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 24 Sep 2012 00:00:00 IST