Geelani, Malik among others under house arrest : Authorities Thursday evening placed several senior separatists leaders under house arrest “to prevent any trouble” on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr on Friday. Police cordoned houses of Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Muhammad Yasin Malik, Shabir Ahmad Shah, Nayeem Khan and Zafar Akbar Bhat on Thursday evening and restricted their movement. Hurriyat (G) spokesman Ayaz Akbar said police cordoned Geelani’s house at Hyderpora and informed him about his house arrest. Geelani was scheduled to offer Eid prayers at Dargah Hazratbal shrine. He has also urged people to stage protests after Eid prayers against secret execution of Muhammad Afzal Guru, recent killings of civilians and arrests of youth in the state. “Since his return from New Delhi in March this year, Geelani sahib has been continuously placed under house arrest. He has been allowed to go for medical check-ups only a few times under police escort and monitoring. Not allowing the octogenarian leader to offer congregational Eid prayers is direct interference in his religious obligations. We urge the international community to take note of this human rights violation,” Akbar said in a statement. Meanwhile Geelani has urged people to celebrate Eid with austerity and avoid bursting firecrackers. Geelani also underscored the need for establishment of Baitul Mall committees to extend a helping hand to deserving people. Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front Muhammad Yasin Malik was placed under house arrest before Iftar. A large contingent of police cordoned his house and placed him under house arrest. Malik was scheduled to offer Eid prayers at TRC ground here. A spokesman of Salvation Movement said its chairman Zaffar Akbar Bhat was placed under house arrest at 5.30 pm on Thursday. Chairman Jammu Kashmir National Front Nayeem Khan was also put under house arrest. A spokesman of NF strongly condemned his house arrest. Chairman of Democratic Freedom party (DFP) Shabir Ahmad Shah has also been placed under house arrest. Shah was scheduled to offer Eid prayers at Dargah Hazratbal. “Authorities are even afraid to allow separatists to offer congregational prayers in masjids. For past continuous 108 Friday and five Eids, I was not allowed to offer congregational prayers. Such oppressive tactics cannot deter my resolve to take the movement to its logical conclusion,” Shah said. A senior police officer preferring not to be named said the separatists have been placed under house arrest “to prevent any law and order situation or trouble on the occasion of Eid.” Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Shalinder Kumar told a local news agency KNS there won’t be any restrictions on Eid. However, in case need arises appropriate steps would be taken to maintain peace in the city,” the Divisional Commissioner said. Meanwhile, Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq will offer Eid prayers at historic Eidgah in Srinagar. The Eid prayers would be held at 10 am and before that from 9 am onwards Mirwaiz will deliver Eid sermon, a spokesperson of Awami Action Committee (AAC) said in a statement. The AAC spokesman appealed people to pay sudqa-e-Fitr before Eid prayers which has been fixed as Rs 40 per person.
Posted on: Fri, 09 Aug 2013 01:56:51 +0000
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