Srinagar: Shabir Ahmad Wani, a middle rung leader of Jammu and Kashmir's hardline Hurriyat group, has been arrested here for allegedly instigating violence in the Valley, police said Friday.
Wani was arrested late Thursday based on intercepts of a phone conversation between him and another person identified as Ghulam Ahmad Dar, a police official said.
"The middle rung Hurriyat leader was arrested after his phone conversation with Ghulam Ahmad Dar during which Wani had told his friend that 10-15 people should be martyred during protests with security forces," he said.
Wani and Dar had been discussing a violent protest in central Badgam district, he added.
The arrest followed disclosures by Home ministry sources in New Delhi that "some violence in Kashmir was instigated".
Wani's family has, however, been maintaining that he is innocent.
Many parts of the Valley have been under an indefinite curfew, enforced with the Army's assistance, following violent protests that led to three deaths in firing by the security forces Tuesday.
CNN-IBN has accessed the intercepts of those conversations between the hardline leaders. Listen in.
Ghulam Ahmed Dar: Procession of nearly 20,000 people had started from Magam and was going towards Budgam.
Shabir Ahmed Wani: You guys enjoy payments sitting at home and do nothing.
Ghulam Ahmed Dar: The management of crowd becomes difficult later. It gets difficult to manage the mob later. At least 15 people should be martyred today.
The Congress has now gone in for damage control over the Kashmir issue. After facing flak for having pressed the panic button and sent the Army, the Congress is quickly distancing itself saying it was the Chief Minister's decision. The Army is on standby in the city and may conduct another flag march on Friday.
Meanwhile, the first batch of additional CRPF jawans is in fact reaching Srinagar on Friday. But the Congress is now saying the Army should be called back as soon as possible.
The Congress and the Centre is insisting that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah should reach out to the people and the Opposition parties. Hence there is an urgent need for an all-party meeting in the state.
A Congress delegation will visit Srinagar and other areas in the Valley to ascertain facts.
Suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba militants have carried out three separate attacks on security forces in Sopore in North Kashmir, leaving two policemen injured.
The attacks are taking place even as the state government's pulling out all stops to ensure strict enforcement of curfew.
The first incident took place at midnight when three militants hurled grenades at a police convoy. This was followed by heavy firing. The second incident took place an hour later. And the third attack was on the road to Baramulla, when terrorists fired upon police vehicles.
(With inputs from Agencies)
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