Top separatist leader Ashraf Sehrai’s two sons have been booked under the anti-terror law Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for allegedly raising pro-azadi slogans during the funeral of their father who died in detention on May 5.

Sehrai’s sons Mujahid Sehrai and Rashid Sehrai were arrested from their Bulbulbagh Barzulla residence in Srinagar in the wee hours of Sunday, fuelling speculation that they were booked under the stringent Public Safety Act, which allows detention without trial.

On Sunday, police denied reports they were booked under the PSA but official sources on Monday said they have been booked under the UAPA.

A Srinagar lawyer said most detentions under the PSA have been traditionally overturned by the courts but getting bail under the UAPA was “very difficult”.

Police in Kashmir are showing no let-up in their crackdown against all forms of dissent despite the raging pandemic.

Nearly two dozen people, including an artist, were arrested this week for speaking against Israeli attacks on Palestine.

The police registered a case under Section 13 of the UAPA after a video had surfaced showing some people raising slogans during the funeral of Sehrai, who was buried in Tekkipora-Sogam area of Kupwara on May 6.

Police said they arrested two mourners Abdul Hay Khan and Altaf Ahmed Khan for questioning initially. Subsequently, both sons of Sehrai too were arrested, fuelling anger in the Valley.

People’s Conference chairman Sajad Lone and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti condemned the arrests.

Sehrai was the front-runner to succeed separatist hawk Syed Ali Shah Geelani.