Over two dozen activists of separatist group JKLF, along with its chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik, were taken into preventive custody today as police foiled an attempt by them to hold a march here against recent cases of communal clashes in Jammu and Kashmir.
Malik was detained in the wee hours today following a raid at his house at Maisuma in the heart of the city.
Later, in the afternoon, senior Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) vice-chairman Bashir Ahmad Bhat was taken into preventive custody along with over two dozen supporters as they tried to march from Maisuma to Lal Chowk, officials added.
Malik had yesterday announced that JKLF would hold a peaceful march today to protest against the violence in the Jammu region since Friday, beginning with clashes in Kishtwar where three persons were killed and scores others injured.
"We will hold a march from Maisuma to Lal Chowk to send a message of peace to the people of Jammu and press for the disbanding of Village Defence Committees.
"The protest will also be directed against political parties which want to polarise the people for their vested interests," Malik told reporters yesterday.
