MUZAFFARABAD, April 11: A group of former Kashmiri Mujahideen staged a demonstration here on Monday to press for release of their detained colleagues. “Release guiltless Kashmiris, release the oppressed,” they shouted as they marched through the main road outside the local press club. One of banners the demonstrators were carrying read: “Release the leaders and workers of Jammu Kashmir United Real Movement.”

At least 27 Jammu Kashmir United Real Movement activists were taken into custody on Wednesday evening — a day before the launching of the first trans-Kashmir bus service — to avert what the officials said ‘any law and order problem’ on the occasion.

The detainees were ini-

tially kept in two police stations and from there they were shifted to central jail here on Friday.

Five of them were woun-

ded on Saturday when a clash erupted between them and other prisoners, evoking condemnations from their colleagues and some pro-independence groups.

“They had not violated any law. Many of them are doing small businesses to earn bread and butter for their families which are starving since they had been put behind bars,” a Jammu Kashmir United Real Movement member told reporters during the demonstration.

He said five of the detainees used to teach in refugees’ schools and their perpetual detention was affecting education of their students.

JKURM, it may be recalled, had announced to hold a reception on April 7 at Domel, a point from where the Muzaffarabad-Srinagar road begins, to accord a “arousing welcome to the travellers from the held Kashmir.”

The group has been an enthusiastic supporter of the bus service between the capitals of two Kashmirs and demands that its members be allowed to use the bus service to go back to their homes in the held territory.

However, answering reporters’ queries on the occasion, Assistant Commissioner Muzaffarabad Mohammad Tayyab dismissed their claim regarding reception.

“There were reports that they had planned a protest demonstration which could not be allowed at any cost,” the AC said.

“Even if it was so there was no need t hold a separate reception when already a function had been organised by the government near the bus terminal”, he added.

The assistant commissioner however admitted that the Jammu Kashmir United Real Movement activists had been taken into “protective custody” and there was no change against them.

“But even now, if they don’t behave peacefully we will have to look what we can do with them,” he said.

When Dawn contacted Deputy Commissioner Muzaffarabad Liaqat Hussain and asked when the detainees would be freed, he said: “We are looking into this matter.”