November 03, 2008	Monday	Ziqa'ad 4, 1429

SRINAGAR, Nov 2: Over a dozen people were hurt on Sunday when Indian police fired teargas and used batons to disperse hundreds of Kashmiris protesting the arrest of their leaders, doctors said.

Violent protests continued for the second day running in occupied Srinagar after three key leaders were sent to jail on Saturday under a tough law that allowed detention for up to two years without trial. Human rights activists say the Public Safety Act is draconian.

The three arrested leaders, Yasin Malik, Ghulam Nabi Sumji and Moulvi Showkat, were arrested for opposing elections scheduled to take place in seven phases, beginning on November 27.

“We have treated over a dozen people here,” a doctor, Altaf Ahmed, said at Srinagar’s main hospital as injured protesters started arriving. Police and paramilitary personnel ran from one quarter to another to chase the stone-throwing protesters.—AFP