(25 Aug 2008)
1. Wide of separatist leader and head of Jammu-Kashmir Liberation Front, Yasin Malik (in white) marching towards Lal-Chowk in central Srinagar after defying curfew, surrounded by police
2. Police arresting Malik
3. Police following protesters, protesters marching in background chanting pro-freedom slogans
4. Police near protesters after arresting Malik
5. Various of paramilitary soldiers standing guard
6. Various of female soldiers
7. Various of soldiers standing guard near barricades at Lal-Chowk
8. Low shot of soldiers' boots
STORYLINE:
Indian authorities arrested two prominent Kashmiri separatist leaders in pre-dawn raids on Monday as thousands of troops enforced a strict curfew to quash protests in the Himalayan region that have left at least 34 people dead.
Later on Monday, another separatist leader and head of the Jammu-Kashmir Liberation Front, Yasin Malik, was arrested after defying the curfew and trying to lead a rally to Lal-Chowk in central Srinagar.
AP Television footage showed Malik being arrested by police and a group of protesters chanting slogans.
AP Television also filmed paramilitary soldiers standing guard near the barricades at Lal-Chowk.
The arrests came hours after paramilitary soldiers in Srinagar opened fire on a group of Muslim protesters who allegedly defied an indefinite curfew imposed in Muslim-majority areas and tried to storm a police camp, an official said.
One person was killed and another seriously injured.
A weekend general strike in Srinagar was the latest in the largest wave of protests against Indian rule in more than a decade, sparked in June when Muslims demonstrated over a government decision to transfer land to a Hindu shrine.
Early on Monday, police arrested the two separatist leaders, Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Omer Farooq.
It was unclear how the arrests would affect plans for a massive sit-in protest planned for Monday.
The streets of Srinagar, the region's biggest city, were tense as Indian troops turned out in full force to enforce the blanket curfew.
Armoured vehicles patrolled the streets, barbed wire barricades blocked public squares, and all roads leading into the city were shut down.
There were nevertheless signs of defiance, as Muslim leaders blared pro-independence chants from mosque speakers and denounced the midnight arrests.
Central Reserve Police Force spokesman said troops were forced to open fire on Sunday after they were surrounded by protesters.
A witness, however, said the soldiers had fired on a man and his son without any provocation.
The curfew extended past Srinagar and clashes between thousands of protesters and police in Baramullah, a town 35 miles (55 kilometres) north, left at least 27 people injured.
The region has been in turmoil for almost two months, and the unrest has left at least 34 people dead, mainly protesters.
The crisis began in June when Muslims protested over the land transfer plan, which they said was actually a settlement plan meant to alter the religious balance in the region.
After the plan was rescinded, Hindus took to the streets of Jammu, a predominantly Hindu city, demanding it be restored.
Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since 1948.
Separatist movements in the disputed region were mostly peaceful until 1989, when the movements gave rise to a bloody Islamic insurgency that wants to see India's part of the region merged with Pakistan or given independence.
At least 68,000 people have been killed in the fighting.
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