Geelani, Mirwaiz, Yaseen still under house arrest

About a dozen senior separatist leaders, including Chairmen of both the factions of the Hurriyat Conference (HC) and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) head Mohammad Yaseen Malik remained under house arrest in the Kashmir valley.

Srinagar, Apr 26, 2009: About a dozen senior separatist leaders, including Chairmen of both the factions of the Hurriyat Conference (HC) and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) head Mohammad Yaseen Malik remained under house arrest in the Kashmir valley. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah justified the house arrest of separatist leaders.

Official sources said Chairman of the Moderate HC Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq, who had given a parliamentary poll boycott call on Thursday, was put under house at his Nigeen house from Friday, when he was scheduled to launch anti poll campaign from historic Jamia masjid.

A number of other leaders of the amalgam, including Nayeem Ahmad Khan, Javid Ahmad Mir and Saleem Geelani were also put under house on Friday to prevent them from addressing anti poll rallies.

The Chairman of the breakaway HC, who addressed an anti poll rally at Jehangir chowk, also remained under house arrest at his Hyderpora residence for the last three weeks.

He was not even been allowed to offer prayers on Friday in the mosque, a spokesman of the amalgam said.

Mr Malik also remained under house arrest from Friday in his Maisuma house. However, he too managed to addressed an anti poll rally in south Kashmir where the parliamentary polls in Anantnag seat would be held on April 30.

Justifying the house arrest of separatist leaders Mr Omar said they would create law and order problems.

They are intimidating people by provoking youth to pelt stones, he said.

The authorities have not launched any crackdown on the separatists, he said adding that there is no problem if any one lodges protest in peaceful and democratic manner.

But, these leaders were intimidating businessmen and common people by asking their workers to pelt stones which would not be allowed, he said. (UNI)