Geelani, Mirwaiz, Malik, Shah Under House Arrest; Step Taken To Prevent Trouble On Eid: Police
Srinagar, Aug 19: Launching a massive crackdown on the separatist leadership, Government on Sunday imposed restrictions on their movement by either arresting them or putting them under house detention in order to prevent their activities on Eid-ul-Fitr.
 According to Hurriyat Conference sources, Chairmen of both the factions, Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, have been detained at their respective residences in Srinagar.
 Separatist leaders Muhammad Yasin Malik, Shabir Ahmad Shah, Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai, Nayeem Ahmad Khan and Zafar Akbar Bhat have also been put under house arrest, the sources added.
 Meanwhile, a senior police officer told KNS that the restrictions have been imposed on the movement of Hurriyat leaders to prevent ‘happening of any untoward incident’ on the auspicious occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.
 The security contingent at Hurriyat (G) Chairman Syed Ali Geelani’s house has been strengthened today. Geelani had earlier announced that he would offer Eid prayers at Hazratbal mosque, however, Hurriyat (G) spokesperson Ayaz Akbar told KNS the octogenarian leader had no plans of holding a procession there and his plans were to just offer Eid prayers.
 Hurriyat Conference (M) Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who was scheduled to lead Eid prayers at Eidgah here, has also been put under house arrest at his Nigeen residence,after the security contingent at his residence was also strengthened.
 The Senior Superintendent of Police, Srinagar, Ashiq Bukhari, and Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Baseer Khan, visited Mirwaiz’s Nageen residence Sunday afternoon and informed him that he cannot offer Eid congregational prayers at Eidgah.
 The Hurriyat spokesperson has condemned the arrest of Mirwaiz, calling a direct interference into religious matters of the head priest.
 Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front spokesperson has also condemned the house arrest of the Front Chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik at his Maisuma residence. Malik had been put under house arrest and his movement restricted, said the spokesperson.
 Democratic Freedom Party Chairman Shabir Ahmad Shah has also been detained at his residence, after his return from Vessu Qazigund where he had gone to meet Pandits to assure them of their safety in Kashmir, said a DFP spokesperson. While condemning the restrictions on movement of the resistance leadership, he said such restrictions cannot suppress the aspirations of the people.
 Tehreek-e-Hurriyat General Secretary Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai has also been detained at his Barzalla residence.
 Police has also put under house arrest National Front Chairman Nayeem Ahmad Khan and Salvation Movement leader Zafar Akbar Bhat at their respective residences.
 Tehreek-e-Hurriyat spokesperson in a statement said police has arrested Muhammad Yousuf Falahi and Shakeel Ahmad (District President Shopian) from Moolo Chirtragam in Shopian district on Saturday evening. “District President Pulwama Mohiuddin Andrabi and district secretary Shakeel Ahmad were arrested from Rathsuna Tral and Dogri Pora Pulwama respectively”, said the spokesperson adding Andrabi was later released by police.
 Police has also arrested Shah Wali Muhammad from Sopore, Muhammad Ashraf Laya from Srinagar, said the Tehreek spokesperson. He said police had also raided residences of Pulwama Tehsil President Muhammad Ayoub and Tral Tehsil President Fayaz Ahmad, however the duo was not arrested as they were not present at their respective residences.
 Hurriyat Conference (G) spokesperson Ayaz Akbar’s residence was also raided by police, however, he was not found at his residences, said Hurriyat (G) sources. Tehreek-e-Hurriyat has condemned restrictions on the resistance leadership, calling it a brazen interference into the religious matters of Muslims in general and the leaders in particular. KNS

Lastupdate on : Sun, 19 Aug 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 19 Aug 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 20 Aug 2012 00:00:00 IST