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India detains Kashmir separatists ahead of rally
Two Muslim separatist leaders in Kashmir have been detained ahead of a major independence rally on Monday.
- Agencies
- Published: 09:32 August 25, 2008
- A Hindu protester raises slogans against Jammu and Kashmir state leaders during a demonstration in Jammu yesterday. The protest was against a state government decision to scrap plans for transferring land to a Hindu shrine.
- Image Credit: AP
Srinagar: Two Muslim separatist leaders in Kashmir have been detained ahead of a major independence rally on Monday.
Police said Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, chairman of Kashmir's main separatist alliance, and hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani were detained in overnight raids in Srinagar.
Separatists have said they will defy curfew on Monday to hold a pro-independence rally in Lal Chowk.
"The people of Kashmir were ready to defy the curfew and carry out the march to protest against Indian occupation," a statement of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference said.
Police have killed at least 24 Muslim protesters and more than 500 have been injured in clashes in two weeks of demonstrations in Kashmir Valley.
A dispute over land for Hindu pilgrims visiting a shrine in Kashmir turned into full-scale rallies this month, boosting separatists who want India's only Muslim-majority region to secede.
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