Police arrests JKLF chairman Mohd Yasin Malik after he tried to defy restrictions and take out a rally, in Anantnag district on Tuesday. (Press Trust of India)
Separatist Yasin Malik has been detained along with four others after they visited the residence of a trucker who was killed over rumours of cow slaughter in south Kashmir.
Yasin Malik, who is the chairman of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front or JKLF was detained in Anantnag when the five men were returning from Batengoo, after attending a condolence meeting for trucker Zahid Ahmad Bhat, a police officer said.
The separatists were detained as a precautionary measure as Yasin Malik was planning to stage a protest against the Zahid's death in Anantnag, which is 55 kilometres from Srinagar, the police officer added.
As the news about the detention of Yasin Malik reached his party headquarters at Maisuma in the heart of Srinagar, groups of JKLF activists took to streets and enforced closure of shops in the area and adjoining localities.
Police and paramilitary personnel who were deployed in the area swung into action to restore order but were engaged by the protesters in clashes, the officer said.
He said police fired dozens of teargas shells to disperse the stone-pelting protesters and the clashes between the two sides were continuing when last reports were received.
No one has been injured so far in the incident but normal activities were badly affected, the officer said.
Meanwhile, a police spokesman said Yasin Malik and others tried to take out a procession with an aim to vitiate the atmosphere.
"Police came to know that Yasin Malik and some other persons wanted to visit the house of late Zahid at Botengo for condolences. They were allowed to do so... However, after visiting the house, they tried to take out a procession with an aim to vitiate the atmosphere which was not allowed," the spokesman said.