Islamabad: The tensions in South Kashmir’s Anantnag town are brewing after police refuses to release the youth detained for their participation in protests. While remaining shut for second consecutive day today, hundreds of people led by Mirwaiz South Kashmir Qazi Yasir staged the massive protests at the heart of town-Lal Chowk against the continuous detention of local youth.

 Chanting pro freedom and anti India slogans, the protesters threatened to go on indefinite hunger strike if youth are not released by today evening.   

“We have given today evening deadline to police to release the youth who peacefully participated in the protests against the killing of Zahid Rasool by Hindu communal forces in Udhampur district on October 9. If they fail to release youth tomorrow morning we will assemble here at Lal Chowk and go on indefinite hunger strike,” Mirwaiz South threatened.

 Although there are no restrictions imposed by the authorities, most parts of the township are shut while the normalcy has returned to uptown area. As many as 36 youth have been detained by police in last several days after they protested the killing of Zahid Rasool.

 Police chief Javaid Geelani has said that youth were detained for their involvement in inciting law and order problem.

“We will release them after proper counselling and with written assurances from their parents,” he had said.