Separatist leaders Yasin Malik, Masarat Alam Bhat detained

SRINAGAR: Police today detained separatist leaders Mohammad Yasin Malik and Masarat Alam Bhat at Awantipora when they were on their way to Tral in south Kashmir's Pulwama district, where two suspected militants were killed in an army operation yesterday.

Malik, who heads the JKLF and Bhat were stopped by police at Awantipora and taken into preventive custody, a police officer said.

He said the leaders and some of their associates were detained in order to prevent flaring up of the situation in Tral area where violent clashes were going on between protesters and security forces.

Hundreds of persons pelted stones on the personnel of law enforcing agencies in Tral area after the funeral of Khalid Muzaffar, who was killed in the army operation in forest area near Buchoo village of Tral.

Security forces fired tear smoke shells and pellet guns to chase away the protesters, resulting in minor injuries to six persons.

The clashes were going on till reports last came in, the officials said.