Jammu and Kashmir police have arrested three men in connection with the murder of lawyer Babar Qadri, the investigations revealing that the conspiracy to kill him might have been hatched in Srinagar central jail.

Police sources said two prisoners lodged at the jail were being questioned following a tip-off by three Srinagar youths arrested recently in connection with Qadri’s killing.

The September killing of Qadri, 40, a frequent participant in TV debates, had kicked up a storm, more so because pro-India and pro-azaadi voices used to dub him an agent of the other side. He was a strong advocate of azaadi but faced criticism from the camp for fiercely opposing Hurriyat hawk Syed Ali Shah Geelani and former High Court Bar Association president Mian Qayoom, a separatist ideologue.

A special investigation team is probing the lawyer’s killing. The police have said he was killed by militants, but Qadri’s father has questioned the claim. The Srinagar police chief said the probe was still underway.