Omar1984
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Kashmiri separatist is arrested
BBC News, Srinagar
Mr Geelani was due to address a news conference
A prominent separatist leader in Indian-administered Kashmir, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, has been arrested.
Mr Geelani - who had been under house arrest for more than two months - was taken into custody by the police on Wednesday afternoon.
He had called for a three-day shutdown over the alleged rape and killing of two women in the town of Shopian.
Mr Geelani was scheduled to announce the next stage in the protest programme at a press conference.
But police raided his house before that and took him into custody.
Security
The Muslim-majority Kashmir valley is closed for the third successive day in protest against the deaths in Shopian.
The alleged rapes and murders have generated much anger
The state government on Monday announced an inquiry into the allegations, insisting at the same time that the "initial findings do not suggest either rape or murder".
Shops, businesses and schools remained shut on Wednesday and most traffic is off the roads.
Police have imposed curfew-like restrictions in Srinagar and other towns to prevent violent demonstrations.
In a related development, the president of the pro-India People's Democratic Party, Mehbooba Mufti, visited Shopian along with a number of her party colleagues on Wednesday.
Thousands of people gathered in the town's main market ahead of her visit, calling on her to resign from her seat in the state assembly before addressing them.
She chose not to address the gathering and instead walked into the nearby police station.
Police fired tear gas shells to disperse the crowd who tried to storm the police station. Ms Mufti's motorcade was pelted with stones as she left the town.
Meanwhile a by-election has been held in the Hazratbal constituency in Srinagar.
Police and paramilitary forces had been deployed in strength to prevent any unrest. Officials say voting was peaceful.
BBC NEWS | South Asia | Kashmiri separatist is arrested
BBC News, Srinagar
Mr Geelani was due to address a news conference
A prominent separatist leader in Indian-administered Kashmir, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, has been arrested.
Mr Geelani - who had been under house arrest for more than two months - was taken into custody by the police on Wednesday afternoon.
He had called for a three-day shutdown over the alleged rape and killing of two women in the town of Shopian.
Mr Geelani was scheduled to announce the next stage in the protest programme at a press conference.
But police raided his house before that and took him into custody.
Security
The Muslim-majority Kashmir valley is closed for the third successive day in protest against the deaths in Shopian.
The alleged rapes and murders have generated much anger
The state government on Monday announced an inquiry into the allegations, insisting at the same time that the "initial findings do not suggest either rape or murder".
Shops, businesses and schools remained shut on Wednesday and most traffic is off the roads.
Police have imposed curfew-like restrictions in Srinagar and other towns to prevent violent demonstrations.
In a related development, the president of the pro-India People's Democratic Party, Mehbooba Mufti, visited Shopian along with a number of her party colleagues on Wednesday.
Thousands of people gathered in the town's main market ahead of her visit, calling on her to resign from her seat in the state assembly before addressing them.
She chose not to address the gathering and instead walked into the nearby police station.
Police fired tear gas shells to disperse the crowd who tried to storm the police station. Ms Mufti's motorcade was pelted with stones as she left the town.
Meanwhile a by-election has been held in the Hazratbal constituency in Srinagar.
Police and paramilitary forces had been deployed in strength to prevent any unrest. Officials say voting was peaceful.
BBC NEWS | South Asia | Kashmiri separatist is arrested