Malik detained; Mirwaiz, Geelani remain under house arrest in Srinagar

Srinagar: Separatist leader Mohammad Yasin Malik was arrested this afternoon and lodged in central jail to prevent him from taking part in a Muharram procession. Chairmen of both the factions of Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Moulvi Umar Farooq remained under house arrest. A separatist outfit spokesperson said a police party came to their party office at Abi Guzar in Lal Chowk this afternoon and arrested Malik, besides another front leader Bashir Ahmad Kashmiri. “Both the leaders were taken to Central Jail, Srinagar on a judicial remand for four days,” he added.

He said Malik was arrested to prevent him from taking part in a Muharram procession in the city, where authorities had imposed restrictions under Section 144 CrPC. The mourners used to take Tazia procession from Guru Bazar to Dalgate Imambara on 8th day of Muharram before 90s though authorities later banned processions in the city. Mirwaiz remained under house arrest since yesterday morning at his Nigeen residence.

He was placed under house arrest yesterday to prevent him from participating in a seminar to pay tributes to Imam Hussain, grandson of Prophet Mohammad. The seminar was scheduled to be held yesterday at the Hyderpora residence of Geelani, who remained under house arrest since June 2016. However, the separatist leaders alleged that they were not allowed to take part in the seminar. (UNI)