Shiv Sena men detained, bid to hoist tricolour in Srinagar thwarted

Srinagar, Dec 6 (IANS) Eight Shiv Sena activists were detained here on Wednesday after the Jammu and Kashmir Police thwarted their bid to hoist the National Flag at Lal Chowk in the city, an official said.

The Shiv Sena activists arrived at Ghanta Ghar in two vehicles and were taken in preventive custody as soon as they alighted, a police official said.

While shouting slogans against National Conference President Farooq Abdullah, the activists said: "If Farooq Abdullah wants to come to power in Jammu and Kashmir he should shun speaking the language of the separatists."

The detained activists were taken to the Kothibagh Police Station where they were released after completing legal formalities, the official said.

The Jammu unit of the Shiv Sena had sent a special team to hoist the tricolour in the heart of city following Farooq Abdullah's remarks on Pakistan-administered Kashmir last week.

"They (Centre and BJP) are talking about raising the flag in PoK. I ask them to go and raise the Tricolour at Lal Chowk in Srinagar. They cannot do even that and they are talking about PoK," Abdullah had said.

Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh also warned the National Conference President to desist from issuing provocative statements.