Srinagar: Chairmen of both the factions of the Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq remained under house arrest while Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief Mohammad Yaseen Malik was released after remaining lodged in central jail, Srinagar for 13 days.
Both the factions of the HC and JKLF, spearheading the agitation, demanding right to self determinations, are jointly calling for demonstrations and strikes in the valley.
There was no relief for the chairman of Hurriyat Conference (G) Geelani who remained under house arrest for the past more than a year. However, he was detained in between when he tried to defy restrictions only to be released in the evening each time.
A spokesman of the amalgam said security forces and state police personnel remained deployed outside the Hyderpora residence of Mr Geelani who is not being allowed to move out.
Meanwhile, Mirwaiz, chairman of Hurriyat Conference (M)who continued to remain under house detention since past four weeks, strongly denounced the government for barring him from offering Friday prayers and delivering religious sermon to the gathering at the historic Jamia Masjid, which remained closed for the past four days.
He alleged that the Government has crossed all limits and flouted every basic principle of democracy.
Mirwaiz said repeated Government curbs the rights of a large section of the society and hurts their religious sentiments.
He alleged that resorting to repressive moves of curfew and restrictions and detaining of separatist leadership is being done to suppress and muzzle the sentiment in Kashmir and choke all space for peaceful means of expressing that sentiment and to further isolate and agitate the people of Kashmir, especially the youth.
Mirwaiz welcomed the statement of UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres stressing for a meaningful dialogue between India and Pakistan and that of China which has offered to a mediate for a permanent resolution of the Kashmir dispute.
He said this reflects that the international community is concerned about the situation in Kashmir and the grave consequences for the region if the dispute is not resolved.
Mirwaiz said that the present situation of direct confrontation between Indian and Pakistani forces on the borders testifies the fact that status quo in Kashmir cannot work any longer and immediate steps have to be taken to resolve the issue.
He said New Delhi must shun its military approach and show maturity and magnanimity by bringing all the three parties on table for the early and honourable resolution of Kashmir dispute in accordance with the aspirations of the people of Kashmir and do away with the impending danger of catastrophe hitting the region due to mounting threat of war.
A JKLF spokesperson here today said a local court granted Malik bail following which he was released from the jail this evening.
He said the JKLF chief has reached his Maisuma residence in civil lines, Srinagar.
“Malik, who was lodged in central jail for 13 days, was arrested on July 3 despite being ill. The JKLF chief was ailing and had to go through various medical tests regarding his heart ailment prior to his arrest,” he said.
