Srinagar, July 23: Police today put restrictions on the movement of Shiromani Akali Dal (Mann) President Simranjeet Singh Mann along with other 15 Sikh leaders as they were planning to visit a Sikh village in Baramulla district of north Kashmir.
An order by District Magistrate Srinagar, Meraj Kakroo, in the evening asked Mann to leave Srinagar as his presence was a threat to the law and order.
"As we were preparing to leave for Baramulla, two senior officers of police informed us that we cannot leave the Gurudwara premises," SAD (M) General Secretary Jaskaran Singh Kahansinghwala said.
He said a large posse of police was deployed outside the Gurudwara at Baghat Barzulla in the city to prevent the Sikh leaders from moving out.
Kahansinghwala said there was no democracy and rule of law in Jammu and Kashmir. “There is lot of suppression and stress due to imposition of black laws like AFSPA,” he said.
SAD said the strike and protest against rapes, custodial killings and large scale arrests in Kashmir were justified. “We appeal world community and international human rights organisations to take serious notice of such atrocities in Kashmir,” SAD said.
The SAD also condemned the arrest of Hurriyat (G) chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Shabir Ahmad Shah. “It is important that Kashmir issue should be solved according to the aspirations of people to bring permanent peace in the region,” SAD said.
In the evening, Police served Mann an order by District Magistrate Srinagar asking him to leave Srinagar.
In the order, the DM has said that Mann’s meetings with ‘secessionists’ were a threat to public law and order and such “I, District Magistrate Srinagar in exercise of powers vested in me by virtue of Section 144 CrPC impose restrictions on the stay/movements of Shri Siramjit Singh Mann in District Srinagar.”
Interestingly, earlier talking to Greater Kashmir, the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), Saddar, Shabir Ahmad said he “requested” Mann not to got to Baramulla today in view of the situation due to strike in the Valley. "There is no question of detaining him. He is on a peace mission," the officer said.
Apart from Simranjeet Singh Mann, the SAD said 15 other members of party were detained by the police.
The detained include SAD (M) General Secretary Jaskaran Singh Kahansinghwala, Baba Amarjit Singh Quilla Hikima Vice president SAD,  Gursewak Singh, Jawarke General Secreatry, Bhadur Singh Bhasour, Member Working Committee, Harbhan Singh, Jaspal Singh Mangal, Gurudev Singh, Gurpreet Singh Jhabar, Harminder Singh, Devinder Singh, Bikram Singh, Harjit Singh, Manjit Singh, Amanjit Singh and Narinder Singh.
Mann has met several separatist leaders since his arrival in Kashmir. Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has strongly condemned the detention of Simranjeet Singh Mann along with other Sikh leaders.
He said Mann was scheduled to meet him on Sunday morning, ‘however he has been asked by the government to leave the state.’ “Mann called me on phone and said he has been asked to leave the state,” Mirwaiz said. “We strongly condemn the government action for not allowing Mann to meet us and visit different places.”
He said Kashmir has been turned into a “Gestapo” state by the government. “They are ruling like the infamous Nazis. Even the people who have balanced approach on Kashmir are being either detained or asked to leave the state. It is very unfortunate and also points towards the political bankruptcy of administration. Kashmir has become a police state.”
He said there is no respect of human rights and other civil rights. “On two Fridays we were not allowed to offer prayers. After Kulgam incident happened we have been kept under house arrest. They are so scared of public reaction. They do not allow people to go out,” Mirwaiz said.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 23 Jul 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 23 Jul 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 24 Jul 2011 00:00:00 IST