Restriction on separatists continue in Kashmir

Srinagar/April,8: Chairmen of both the factions of the Hurriyat
Conference (HC) Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq
besides about a dozen other separatist leaders remained under house
arrest while Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief has been
lodged in central Jail, Srinagar.
Restriction on separatists had been imposed after they issued call
for poll boycott in in both Srinagar and Anantnag parliamentary
constituencies. Polling was held in Srinagar yesterday during which
eight persons were killed and over 20 others injured in security force
and police action while polling will be held in Anantnag constituency
on April 12.
However, official sources said that restrictions on
separatists had been imposed to prevent any law and order problem.
Both the factions of the HC and JKLF, spearheading the
agitation, demanding “right to self determination” have called for two
days strike from Monday in protest against civilian killings last Sunday.
There is no change in the situation as majority separatist
leaders remained under house arrest, a spokesman of the hardline HC
Aiyaz Akbar said.
He said Geelani remained under house arrest since May last year
and he was not even allowed to offer Friday prayers in a mosque since
then.
A large number of security forces and state police personnel
remained deployed outside the Hyderpora residence of Geelani who
was arrested a number of time for defying restrictions. However, he
was being released every time.
Aiyaz said about a dozen other senior leaders, including
Mohammad Ashraf Sehrayee, Shabir Ahmad Shah, Nayeem Ahmad Khan, Peer
Saifullah, Altaf Ahmad Shah, Raja Mehrajuddin and Mohammad Ashraf Laya
have been put under house arrest, Aiyaz alleged.
We have apprehension that restrictions on separatist leaders will
continue till “election drama” in Anantnag parliamentary constituency
is over on April 12, he said.
Aiyaz, who too is also under house arrest, alleged that Special
Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police yesterday raided his
house, damaged property and window panes besides beat him. Even police
personnel deployed to prevent me from moving out were also not spared
by the SOG, he alleged.
He alleged hundreds of youths were arrested in the Kashmir valley,
particularly in south Kashmir during the past about two weeks and more
night raids are being conducted by the police.
Meanwhile, chairman of moderate HC Mirwaiz also remained under
house arrest, a spokesman of the amalgam said.
Security forces and state police personnel remained deployed
outside the Nigeen house of Mirwaiz, who remained under house arrest
for the past more than a week.
Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) has been
lodged in Central jail, Srinagar despite his ill health, a spokesman
of the front said.