Six activists of hardline faction of Hurriyat Conference were taken into preventive custody as the separatist amalgam organised rallies to protest the arrest of its leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani.
Senior leader Masarat Aalam, affiliated with Hurriyat constituent Muslim Meague, was detained alongwith five others near Divisional Comissioner's office at Tankipora in the city when he was leading a protest rally, official sources said.
The rally was taken out from Khankahi Moulla in Srinagar shortly after Friday prayers and was heading for Jehangir Chowk in the city when police intercepted it, the sources said.
They said the detained persons were lodged at Shaheed Gunj police station and would be released later in the day.
While condemning the police action, Muslim League spokesman Hakeem Abdul Rashid claimed that 12 activists were taken into custody during the police baton charge on the procession.
The sources said police resorted to mild baton charge to disperse the processionists, who were shouting slogans demanding release of Geelani.
A group of youth also indulged in stone-pelting immediately after Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid here and they were chased away by police, the sources said.
{{/usCountry}}A group of youth also indulged in stone-pelting immediately after Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid here and they were chased away by police, the sources said.
{{/usCountry}}There were reports of demonstrations from various places including Sopore, Handwara, Kupwara, Shopian, Pulwama, Baramulla, Anantnag and Badgam against the arrest of Geelani.