ISLAMABAD, May 20: Tension mounted in the capital over the Lal Masjid issue on Sunday when police took 36 students of Jamia Fareedia in pre-emptive detention, and the madressah militants taking to streets and blocking traffic.

Police claimed that the Jamia students had been picked up because they were reinforcing the militants, known as the Lal Masjid brigade, which had kidnapped four policemen on Friday in their latest escapade.

Two of the policemen were released in exchange for grant of bail to five Lal Masjid madressah students.

Heavily-armed Rangers, elite force and reserve police from the Punjab Police Constabulary were called out in Islamabad and, at one stage, it seemed that a massive crackdown on Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa was being planned.

Rangers and police personnel were deployed at exit and entry points of the city and blocks were placed to divert traffic from roads leading to Lal Masjid. Barbed wires were laid around the Aabpara police station, not far from Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa where masked militants carrying sticks took positions.

The deployment of security forces took place at about 7.30pm. At least 11 pickets were set up at exit and entry points to prevent “reinforcement” from reaching Lal Masjid. The points include Islamabad Chowk, F-11/3, I-8/4, Faizabad, Convention Centre, Barakahu, Rawat, Tarnol, Margalla Road, Bari Imam and Stadium Chowk.

The students of Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa also put up a show of strength by preparing trenches and hideouts.

And Lal Masjid deputy in-charge Maulana Abdul Rasheed Ghazi warned the government that it would be responsible for “the consequences” if it launched any assault on the seminaries.

Talking to newsmen, Maulana Ghazi ‘flatly’ refused to continue talks with the government and said his men were being picked up by intelligence agencies.

“While the government is holding talks its intelligence agencies are picking up our students,” he added.

He said Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and some women ministers had been in contact with them to resolve the standoff, while some government officials, whom he did not name, were trying to sabotage the negotiations. “The government will have to give up it hypocritical policy.”

He made it clear that his people reserved the option of launching countrywide suicide attacks if any operation was launched against them.

Two of the released students, Israrul Haq and Anwarul Haq, were present on the occasion. They alleged that they had been kidnapped and tortured by the agencies.

A security officer said that a squad of around 200 personnel equipped with anti-riot tools and headed by one SP and one DSP had been deployed at each picket. “The squad has sealed the roads leading to Lal Masjid,” he said.

Many families living in areas around Lal Masjid have shifted to other parts of the city.

Meanwhile, military authorities and senior intelligence and administration officials held a series of meetings to discuss ways to handle the crisis.