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.
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.
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.
