Police arrest top separatist leader, 40 others in Kashmir to halt anti-India protests
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}SRINAGAR, India (AP) — Indian authorities arrested a key separatist leader and 40 other activists Thursday in a bid to quell spiraling protests in the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir, an official said.
Syed Ali Shah Geelani was arrested for making "provocative statements" and instigating young people to stage violent protests, said Mehraj Ahmad Kakroo, a top official in Indian Kashmir's main city, Srinagar.
Police have also arrested at least 40 other separatist leaders and activists during the past two days, a police officer said on condition of anonymity in keeping with department policy. Another separatist leader, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, was placed under house arrest, he said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Indian Kashmir has witnessed regular protests and shutdowns over the past two weeks after three people were allegedly killed by government forces.
Masarat Alam, another separatist leader, called for a two-day general strike beginning Friday and announced a "quit Kashmir" campaign against Indian rule.
Anti-Indian sentiment runs deep in Kashmir, which is divided between India and Pakistan and claimed by both.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Separatist politicians and armed militants reject Indian sovereignty in Kashmir and want to carve out a separate state or merge the Himalayan region with Pakistan.
More than 68,000 people, mostly civilians, have died in the conflict since it began in 1989.