Shutdown called in Kashmir over PSA on Masarat Alam

Hurriyat G) chairman, Syed Ali Geelani on Thursday while condemning the slapping of Public Safety Act (PSA) on Masarat Alam Bhat, called for a state wide protest strike on Saturday against it.

Geelani also called for peaceful protests tomorrow after Friday prayers.

Bhat, who was released by the PDP-led government last month after spending over four years in jail under PSA, had been arrested on April 17 on charges of waging war against the country and sedition after he hoisted Pakistani flag and chanted anti-Indian slogans during a rally organised for hardline Hurriyat Conference leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani.

“He (Bhat) has been booked under PSA and shifted to Kotbhalwal Jail,” District Magistrate Budgam Altaf Ahmad Mir said today.

The 45-year-old hardline leader had been remanded to a seven-day police custody after his arrest.

Police today said he has been sent to Kotbalwal jail in Jammu after being shifted from Srinagar during the night.