Updated on Saturday, November 01, 2008, 00:00 IST

Srinagar, Nov 01: Yasin Malik, chairman of the pro-independence Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, was arrested Saturday under the Public Security Act, police said. He is part of the separatists who have called for a boycott of the polls scheduled in the state.

On Oct 23, Malik had launched his poll boycott campaign from Hajin town in north Kashmir Hajin and asked people to stay away from the assembly polls, scheduled in the troubled state Nov 17 to Dec 24.

Ghulam Nabi Sumbji, acting chairman of the hardline Geelani faction of the Hurriyat Conference, has also been booked for appealing for a poll boycott.

Speaking to reporters after his arrest, Malik said: "Jail is like second home to me. We've been carrying on a democratic poll boycott campaign here and the Election Commission has also that voting in elections was as much a democratic right of the people as the right not to. I appeal to people that they should continue peaceful poll boycott and not give in to any provocation."

Bureau Report