Author: Agencies
Publication: CNN-IBN
Date: July 9, 2010
URL: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/hurriyat-leader-arrested-cong-says-call-back-army/126291-3.html?from=tn
Shabir Ahmad Wani, a middle rung leader of
Jammu and Kashmir's hardline Hurriyat group, has been arrested here for allegedly
instigating violence in the Valley, police said Friday.
Wani was arrested late Thursday based on intercepts
of a phone conversation between him and another person identified as Ghulam
Ahmad Dar, a police official said.
"The middle rung Hurriyat leader was
arrested after his phone conversation with Ghulam Ahmad Dar during which Wani
had told his friend that 10-15 people should be martyred during protests with
security forces," he said.
Wani and Dar had been discussing a violent
protest in central Badgam district, he added.
The arrest followed disclosures by Home ministry
sources in New Delhi that "some violence in Kashmir was instigated".
Wani's family has, however, been maintaining
that he is innocent.
Many parts of the Valley have been under an
indefinite curfew, enforced with the Army's assistance, following violent
protests that led to three deaths in firing by the security forces Tuesday.
CNN-IBN has accessed the intercepts of those
conversations between the hardline leaders. Listen in.
Ghulam Ahmed Dar: Procession of nearly 20,000
people had started from Magam and was going towards Budgam.
Shabir Ahmed Wani: You guys enjoy payments
sitting at home and do nothing.
Ghulam Ahmed Dar: The management of crowd
becomes difficult later. It gets difficult to manage the mob later. At least
15 people should be martyred today.
The Congress has now gone in for damage control
over the Kashmir issue. After facing flak for having pressed the panic button
and sent the Army, the Congress is quickly distancing itself saying it was
the Chief Minister's decision. The Army is on standby in the city and may
conduct another flag march on Friday.
Meanwhile, the first batch of additional CRPF
jawans is in fact reaching Srinagar on Friday. But the Congress is now saying
the Army should be called back as soon as possible.
The Congress and the Centre is insisting that
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah should reach out to the people and the Opposition
parties. Hence there is an urgent need for an all-party meeting in the state.
A Congress delegation will visit Srinagar
and other areas in the Valley to ascertain facts.
Suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba militants have carried
out three separate attacks on security forces in Sopore in North Kashmir,
leaving two policemen injured.
The attacks are taking place even as the state
government's pulling out all stops to ensure strict enforcement of curfew.
The first incident took place at midnight
when three militants hurled grenades at a police convoy. This was followed
by heavy firing. The second incident took place an hour later. And the third
attack was on the road to Baramulla, when terrorists fired upon police vehicles.
