There has been no let up in the detention of Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) activists, whose mass detention began on Friday.
As many as 400 JeI activists and members, 200 in restive southern Kashmir alone, have been detained as, according to deputy inspector general of police south Kashmir range Atul Kumar Goel, the police had “law and order apprehensions in the Valley”. The detainees include the elderly and ailing persons.
Sixty-two-year-old deputy ameer (chief) of Jamaat, AhmadullahParrayMakki, was picked up on Sunday evening from his home in Khiram village of Bijbehara. Along with about 15 other JeI activists, he was shifted to Mattan jail.
Most of the Jamaat activists in Anantnag district have been picked up in Dochnipora and Arwani areas. A few activists were arrested in Kokernag and Dilagam villages. Night raids continued in Kulgam district particularly in Redwani, Kujar, Frisal, Yaripora, Bogam, Bochroo, Bolsoo, Okay, Mohamadpora and Tarigam.
Former ameer, octogenarian Sheikh Ghulam Hassan, who was detained despite being bedridden, was released on Monday. A relative of Sheikh said that he was asked to report at the police station again after his health improves.
In the crackdown, even Jamaatsympathisers and kin of Jamaat activists, who are not affiliated with the organisation, have been booked.
Many families said that before the mass arrests, the army has profiled some JeI activists and called them to their camps.
Several police officials who spoke to Greater Kashmir on the condition of anonymity said there are no charges against the detained activists and these are merely “preventive detentions”.