Major crackdown on separatists ahead of Pakistan day tomorrow

Srinagar: Chairmen of both the factions of Hurriyat Conference (HC)-- Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq-- remained under house arrest while restrictions have been imposed on about half-a-dozen other separatist leaders to prevent them from attending Pakistan Day in New Delhi tomorrow.

Chairman of National Front (NF), a constituent of hardline HC, Nayeem Ahmad Khan was arrested at Srinagar International Airport when he was leaving for New Delhi to attend the day in Pakistan Embassy there. 'We had booked air tickets to travel to New Delhi today to attend the Pak Day tomorrow but were informed that we cannot travel and put under house arrest or detained in police stations,' a spokesman for the hardline HC Aiyaz Akbar told UNI.

He said large number of security forces and police personnel remained deployed outside the Hyderpora residence of amalgam chairman Mr Geelani, who has been put under house arrest since May last year. Mr Akbar alleged that Mr Geelani could not offer Eid or Friday prayers in a mosque due to restrictions.

Beside me, about a dozen other senior leaders were also either put under house arrest or detained in police stations, Mr Akbar said. He said General Secretary Shabir Ahmad Shah, Mohammad Ashraf Sehrayee, Peer Saifullah, Altaf Ahmad Shah, Raja Mehrajuddin and Mohammad Ashraf Laya have been put under house arrest while Umar Adil Dar detained in police station.

Mr Aiyaz said another senior leader of the amalgam Nayeem Ahmad Khan was arrested at Srinagar airport. 'We all were to travel to New Delhi to attend the Pak Day function in Pak Embassy tomorrow. We were informed by police that we cannot leave this morning.' Mr Aiyaz strongly condemned continued house arrest of Mr Geelani and not allowing them to attend Pak Day. Meanwhile, chairman of moderate HC Mirwaiz also remained under house arrest, media advisor to HC Advocate Shahidul Islam said.

He said the Mirwaiz and several other senior leaders of the amalgam, including himself, were scheduled to travel to New Delhi by air today. But security forces and state police personnel remained deployed outside the Nigeen house of the Mirwaiz, who remained under house arrest for the past about one week. 'I have also been put under house arrest this morning to prevent me for leaving for New Delhi,' Advocate Islam said. (UNI)