Intensifying their crackdown on religious leaders and dissenters, government forces on Monday night detained eleven persons including a prominent cleric in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district. The cleric was however released later.
A police official said that Moulana Muhammad Amin Shah was detained by police from his residence in Dangarpora village.
However, according to the official, Shah was released after a few hours.
Shah delivers Friday sermons at a mosque in Washbugh.
Another police official said that 10 persons were picked up by the forces from their residences during a string of overnight raids in Kakapora area.
They were being quizzed for their alleged role in various protests in the area, an official said.
Hundreds of activists of socio-religious organisation Jamaat-e-Islami, other religious groups and youths have been detained by government forces over the past one month in four districts of south Kashmir –Anantnag (Islamabad), Kulgam, Shopian and Pulwama. Many of them have been booked under Public Safety Act and shifted outside Kashmir.
On March 14, authorities imposed Public Safety Act on prominent Ahlihadith cleric and vice president Jamiat-e-Ahlihadith, Mushtaq Veri, and three Jamaat activists in Anantnag (Islamabad). A day later, two youth from Pulwama were booked under PSA.
On March 13, at least 14 youth were detained from Ratnipora village of Pulwama as part of the massive clampdown on the dissenters.