JKLF chief arrested, Geelani, Mirwaiz under house arrest

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief Mohammad Yaseen Malik was again arrested while chairmen of both the factions of the Hurriyat Conference (HC) Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq also remained under house arrest to prevent them from going to Delhi, where they had planned to stage protest and later court arrest against National Investigation Agency (NIA). The senior separatist leaders, who are spearheading the agitation, demanding right to self determination, had announced that since they the main target of NIA, they will court arrest before the headquarters of NIA, New Delhi today.

The NIA has arrested spokespersons of both the factions of the HC Aiyaz Akbar and Advocate Shahidul Islam, son in laws of Mr Geelani, a number of businessssmen since July this year when a formal FIR was registered following disclosure by National Front (NF) chairman Nayeem Ahmad Khan that separatists were receiving money from Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) for terror activities and stone pelting in the valley. Khan, who is also under arreste, was later expelled from the hardline HC for his admission. Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) chief Shabir Ahmad Shah is also under the detention of Enforcement Directorate (ED) in 2015 money laundering case.

Malik was arrested from his Maisuma residence during a raid by police late last night, a spokesman of the front said. He said Malik, who was arrested on September 7 to prevent him from leading protests in Srinagar after Friday prayers yesterday, was released last evening only to be re-arrested late last night. Though no reason was given by the police for the arrest of Malik but it was only to prevent him from flying to Delhi for court arrest, spokesman said. Meanwhile, Mr Geelani and Mirwaiz who too were scheduled to fly to Delhi for court arrest today, remained under house arrest To prevent them from organising protest near the headquarter of NIA, spokespersons of the amalgams said. (UNI)