Srinagar, Feb 14: Police have arrested around 30 youth from various areas of Srinagar and Baramulla since Saturday and most of them have been rounded up during nocturnal raids.
Fresh spate of arrests has created panic among the youth and they have started going into hiding following the police raids.
Most of the youth have been arrested in jurisdictions of Superintendent of Police (SP) south and north Srinagar and old town areas of Baramulla.
Sources said at least 10 youth have been picked up from Batamaloo, Bemina and Magarmal Bagh areas of south Srinagar. Most of them are lodged in Police Station Batamaloo. They were arrested during nocturnal raids.
The residents of these areas alleged that cops barged into their residential houses during the night hours and arrested the youth without any provocation.
Around 15 youth have been arrested from various old city areas since Saturday during nocturnal raids. They have been lodged in different police stations of north Srinagar including police stations of Nowhatta and Khanyar.
Residents said since Saturday evening police is on arrest spree in most parts of old city. They said the arrest spree has forced the youth to go into hiding. They termed the arrests as unprovoked.
Senior Superintendent of Police, Srinagar, Syed Aashiq Hussain Bukhari said the police have arrested some youth for creating law and order problem.
Sources in police said the youth who were earlier allegedly involved in stone pelting and disruption of peace have been detained. “This is a preventive measure and I think after Friday prayers they will be released,” he said.
The police have also arrested five youth in Baramulla town of north Kashmir. Sources said that all these youth are the residents of Baramulla town and were arrested during nocturnal raids.
Police has also detained two youth in Islamabad (Anantnag) town last evening, however they were released soon. “Nobody is in custody in south Kashmir,” Deputy Inspector General of Police south Kashmir, Vijay Kumar told Greater Kashmir.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 14 Feb 2013 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 14 Feb 2013 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 15 Feb 2013 00:00:00 IST