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Indian police have detained at least 237 people ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, local daily Greater Kashmir said Wednesday.
The newspaper quoting police officials said the detained include 141 activists of separatist groups and 96 former militants.
According to the newspaper, the detentions were mostly carried out in Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir and followed by other towns.
Authorities have already detained prominent separatist leaders to prevent them from holding a parallel rally coinciding Modi's visit on Saturday.
The call for rally -- "million march" was given by a senior separatist leader of the region, Syed Ali Geelani, to counter Modi' s proposed rally and to challenge New Delhi's rule over the region.
Geelani's call was supported by almost all separatist leaders including Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammed Yasin Malik.
Local government fears participation of separatists and their supporters in the rally would fuel anti-India demonstrations.
A separatist movement challenging New Delhi's rule has been going on in Indian-controlled Kashmir.
Meanwhile, massive security measures have been put in place in the run-up to the high-profile visit and rally.
Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan, is claimed by both in full. Since their independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir. Enditem
