Srinagar, July 11: In a bid to thwart the Mazar-e-Shuhada and UNO chalo marches on July 13, authorities on Sunday put the Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (M), Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and senior leader, Agha Syed Hassan Al Mousavi Al Safvi, under house arrest. Police also raided the houses of many of the conglomerate’s second-rung leaders and activists.
 Reports said a large contingent of police and paramilitary CRPF troopers cordoned the houses of Mirwaiz and Agha Hassan at Nigeen and Budgam respectively today.
 “Government has started to put the Hurriyat leadership under house arrest and is harassing our activists to foil our march to Mazar-e-Shuhada and UNO on the Martyrs Day. This shows Government’s frustration for failing to curb the ongoing agitation against the killings,” Mirwaiz told Greater Kashmir. 
 Senior Hurriyat (M) leaders including Nayeem Ahmad Khan and Zafar Akbar Bhat are already in police custody for past over two weeks while Shabir Ahmad Shah is serving 7th detention under PSA in Kot Balwal jail since the summer agitation of 2008.
 “Nayeem, Shabir and Zafar are suffering with various ailments. Their condition is deteriorating with each passing day,” a close aide of Mirwaiz, Advocate Shahid-ul-Islam, said.
 Mirwaiz maintained that the marches scheduled for July 13 will be peaceful. “Come what may we will carry out the marches. We have every right to pay homage to the 1931 martyrs and register our protest over the killings of innocents by troopers and police. If any attempts are made to thwart the marches, the Government will be responsible for its consequences,” he said.
 Mirwaiz said July 13 will be marked as re-affirmation day. “On this day we will take a vow to take the movement to its logical conclusion. Kashmiris have given countless sacrifices for the movement. We are not afraid of facing bullets or autocratic tactics to suppress our fight for right to self-determination,” he said.   
 He said the overwhelming response to the conglomerate’s civil disobedience program against the killings should serve as an eye-opener to New Delhi. “Despite restrictions and heavy presence of troops, people came out in thousands and staged protests against killings and for freedom. Over one lakh Kashmiris have sacrificed their lives for freedom. The writing on the wall is clear. Ironically, New Delhi is turning a blind eye to reality,” he said.
 Mirwaiz castigated the Government for giving hype to the Army’s flag marches to restore “so-called order.”
“The fact is that Kashmiris have been suffering at the hands of Army for past 20 years. Killing of three youth in a fake encounter at Machil is the glaring example of Army’s role in suppressing our movement. However, their presence in city or other places will not deter our resolve to achieve freedom,” Mirwaiz maintained.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 11 Jul 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 11 Jul 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 12 Jul 2010 00:00:00 IST