Jammu: Curfew has been imposed in Kishtwar town following tension over the arrest of three people last night who were wanted by police on charges of sedition for the past few weeks. The three have been identified as Abdul Qayoom Mattoo, a local Hurriyat leader and Imam of a local mosque in Omar mohalla, Saifuddin Bhagwan, a member of the Kishtwar’s Majlis-e-Shoura and Firdous Bhagwan, a local Hurriyat leader. Another Imam of Banstan Jama Masjid, Qari Manzoor, however, escaped before police raided his residence. They were among nearly 30 people booked by police on charges of sedition for raising anti-India slogans during protests organized after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani by security forces in the Valley, sources said. Two of them, Abdul Qayoom Matto and Saifuddin Bhagwan, have been detained under Public Safety Act, said Kishtwar Senior Superintendent of Police Sandeep Wazir. The administration was yet to issue orders for detention of Firdous also under PSA though he was also booked on charges of sedition. It was due to timely action by police and civil administration in the very beginning against anti-India protests that saved the situation from taking an ugly turn in the communally sensitive Kishtwar district where three people were killed, over 80 injured and property worth crores torched during communal clashes on 2013 Eid. The trouble had spread to other parts of the state making the government impose curfew at various places and suspend mobile phone and internet services. Pointing out that five separate FIRs naming nearly 30 people for sedition were registered with Kishtwar police, sources said that cops did not arrest them initially in view of the coming Eid and Machail yatra. Last night, as a police party went to Banstan mohalla to arrest Qari Manzoor, women came out of their houses and started holding demonstration. Taking advantage of the situation, Manzoor fled from his house. In the meantime, another police party raided a house in Omar mohalla and arrested Abdul Qayoom Mattoo. Two others, Saifuddin Bhagwan and Firdous Bhagwan were arrested from their houses near the Kishtwar bus stand. During police action, announcements were made on loudspeakers fitted atop local mosques asking people to organize protests on Sunday morning. As a precautionary measure, administration imposed curfew in the town from 4 am, sources said, adding that situation though tense was under control. (Agencies)