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Kashmir girl band: Three arrested for threats to Pragaash Kashmir girl band: Three arrested for threats to Pragaash
(about 11 hours later)
Police in Indian-administered Kashmir have arrested three people for making online threats to members of an all-girl rock group. Police in Indian-administered Kashmir have arrested three people for making online threats to members of Pragaash, an all-girl rock group.
The teenagers, described as "un-Islamic" by the region's most senior cleric, quit singing earlier this week.The teenagers, described as "un-Islamic" by the region's most senior cleric, quit singing earlier this week.
On Tuesday, one of the band members queried why they had been criticised when male bands were allowed to perform. On Tuesday, one band member queried why they had been criticised when male bands were allowed to perform.
She told the BBC that their intention was not to disrespect Islam. Meanwhile a leading human rights group in Kashmir said it would file a case against the cleric.
The teenager confirmed reports that the group, Pragaash, had disbanded. "We are filing public interest litigation in the high court here, against Mufti Bashir who is a self-appointed cleric. Civil society will challenge his legal status and his right to question peoples' choice of recreation," Parvez Imroz, who heads the Coalition of Civil Society, told the BBC's Riyaz Masroor.
The girls said they had received abuse and hate mail on Facebook since they made their first live appearance at the Battle of the Bands music festival in Srinagar in December. The band members say they have received abuse and hate mail on Facebook since they made their first live appearance at the Battle of the Bands music festival in Srinagar in December.
Police later said they had registered a case and began investigations into allegedly intimidating comments posted on Facebook against the group. A band member interviewed by the BBC on Tuesday said that their intention was not to disrespect Islam.
Police later said they had registered a case and begun investigations into allegedly intimidating comments posted on Facebook against the group.
"I'm glad the police in Kashmir have identified and arrested two people for the online threats made to the girls," Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah wrote on his Twitter account on Thursday morning."I'm glad the police in Kashmir have identified and arrested two people for the online threats made to the girls," Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah wrote on his Twitter account on Thursday morning.
"I'm told more arrests [are] possible," he added."I'm told more arrests [are] possible," he added.
A little later, police confirmed to the BBC that a third man had been arrested and that they were looking for a fourth man.A little later, police confirmed to the BBC that a third man had been arrested and that they were looking for a fourth man.
'Indecent behaviour''Indecent behaviour'
On Sunday the Muslim-majority state's grand mufti criticised the girl band for what he said was indecent behaviour.On Sunday the Muslim-majority state's grand mufti criticised the girl band for what he said was indecent behaviour.
"When girls and young women stray from the rightful path... this kind of non-serious activity can become the first step towards our destruction," Grand Mufti Bashiruddin Ahmad said in a statement."When girls and young women stray from the rightful path... this kind of non-serious activity can become the first step towards our destruction," Grand Mufti Bashiruddin Ahmad said in a statement.
However, many others have leapt to the girls' defence.However, many others have leapt to the girls' defence.
Support for the band has poured in from all over the state and elsewhere in India, where the story has been headline news.Support for the band has poured in from all over the state and elsewhere in India, where the story has been headline news.
Jammu and Kashmir is India's only Muslim-majority state and has been the scene of a violent insurgency against Indian rule since 1989.Jammu and Kashmir is India's only Muslim-majority state and has been the scene of a violent insurgency against Indian rule since 1989.
The region has a long history of women dancing and singing in public at festivals and marriages, even though some clerics oppose such behaviour.The region has a long history of women dancing and singing in public at festivals and marriages, even though some clerics oppose such behaviour.