Kashmir on fire: 7 big developments in the Masarat Alam case so far

By NewsGram Staff Writer

Amid the tense environment after the arrest of Kashmir separatist leader, Masarat Alam, the streets of valley witnessed pitched battles on Friday when supporters of the Hurriyat Conference confronted the police. The clash led to about a dozen of people being injured and a death of a youth in Narbal.

It is notable that Masarat is accused of organising stone-throwing protests in Jammu and Kashmir in 2010, in which over 100 people were killed.

Let's have a look at the seven bigger developments in the controversy so far:

1. After the waving of Pakistan flags in a rally in the valley, a court in Budgam on Friday night ordered seven days police custody for Masarat Alam. His arrest fumed his supporters that led to turmoil in the valley.

2. Just after the Friday prayers, protesters started to throw stones at the security forces. The clashes led Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq to appeal for peaceful protests.

3. After the killing of a teenager in Tral, Umar denounced the government and commanded an inquiry.

4. The confidant of Alam, Sayyed Ali Shah Geelani was also stopped from carrying out a march on Friday amidst the tense environment in Tral. The controversial rally carried out on Wednesday was said to be Geelani's welcome party in the valley after his return from Delhi.

5. While Alam was taken by police into custody, the hardliner said that, "Arrest is nothing new for us… this is not happening for the first time. This detention will not deter us."

6. Masarat's controversial remarks and pro-Pakistan slogans raised in the valley attracted great furor in the country, which forced the Home Minister, Rajnath Singh, to demand from Sayeed strict actions against Masarat.

7. This forced the Sayeed government to take strict stand against the entire event. On the issue of Pakistani flags hoisted in the rally, Jammu and Kashmir CM said, "Democracy is a battle of ideas, they are free to have their own way, speak their mind. But something which is not acceptable, is not, will not be tolerated."