Srinagar, January 23, 2014:The police personnel arrested 1,325 persons, including 95 minors, from across Kashmir valley, after hanging of Kashmiri Mohammad Afzal Guru in Indias Tihar Jail, on February 9 which had triggered mass agitation in Kashmir.
The 95 minors arrested from the Kashmir valley included 29 from Srinagar, 25 from north Kashmir’s Baramulla and 16 from another north Kashmir district of Bandipora from Feb 9 till December 20, 2013.
Eight minors were arrested from south Kashmir’s Isalmabad (Anantnag) district, six each from south Kashmir’s Shopian and Budgam districts and four from Ganderbal district, according to the document obtained by The Tribune India.
In the past few years, during mass agitation for Azaadi and against atrocities, killings and demonstrations, the authorities arrested many minor boys for participating in protests and booked them under black law Public Safety Act. The human rights groups, including Amnesty International denounced arresting of teenaged boys and locking them up in facilities with no special childcare support.
Out of 1,325 persons arrested over a period of 11 months last year, 307 have been identified in the document as students. While most of the arrests have been made under different black laws, according to the document.
In June and July forceful demonstrations were held against the killing of two civilians in Indian Army firing in Markundal village and in September when five persons, were killed in Shopian town.