SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- India's federal government rushed 100 companies of paramilitary forces for deployment in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir amid a major crackdown on separatists, officials said Saturday.

The troops were airlifted Friday on the directive of the Indian home ministry.

The deployment has come at a time when the local government has launched a major crackdown on separatists in the region.

During a late night crackdown, a senior separatist leader Yasin Malik was detained from his residence.

Reports said dozens of Jama'at-e-Islami (JeI) leaders including the party chief were also detained by government forces during the night raids.

Following last week's suicide car bomb attack on paramilitary convoy in Indian-controlled Kashmir that killed 40 Indian troopers, there has been a considerable build-up of paramilitary forces in the region.