Srinagar, April 19 -- Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) on Friday staged a protest march in Handwara against the recent arrests of local youths who had uploaded social media posts criticising Israel and urging a boycott of Israeli products.

The protest, led by AIP senior leader and MLA Langate Sheikh Khursheed, was joined by dozens of AIP activists and supporters. The protesters raised slogans demanding the immediate release of the detained youths and condemned the stifling of democratic expression.

Sheikh Khursheed and other protesters were stopped by police authorities during the march. However, officials assured the MLA that the detained youths, who were involved in uploading the video, would be released soon.

"The people of Jammu & Kashmir...