Senior Kashmiri separatist Yasin Malik was arrested in New Delhi on Monday, following his failure to appear before a special anti-terrorist court, his lawyer said.
Malik, who heads the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front and is an executive member of Kashmir's main separatist alliance -- the All Party Hurriyat Conference -- was remanded in judicial custody until September 4.
His lawyer, R.M. Tufail, said Malik had been required to appear before the court on April 9, but was unable to do so as he was undergoing medical treatment in the United States.
The court appearance related to charges of sedition and encouraging terrorism dating back to 1992.
"When he returned to India, we filed an affidavit requesting exemption from the hearing on the grounds that he had been out of the country," Tufail said.
"However, the court ruled against the request and, when he appeared today, the judge ordered him remanded in judicial custody prior to a further hearing on September 4." -- NEW DELHI (AFP)
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)