Police on Thursday detained Hurriyat (G) chairman, Syed Ali Geelani, Hurriyat (M) chairman, Mirwaiz Molvi Umar Farooq and other pro-freedom leaders after they tried to march towards Mazar-e-Shuhada to pay homage to Sheikh Abdul Aziz and martyrs of 2008 and 2010 unrests.The separatist leadership including Geelani, Mirwaiz and JKLF chief in a joint statement had called for Mazar-e-Shuhada Eidgah chalo march on today to pay homage to the martyrs there.However, police detained Geelani, Mirwaiz and other pro-freedom leaders after they tried to lead a protest march and lodged them into preventive custody while JKLF chief, Muhammad Yasin Malik who was also scheduled to march towards Dargah continued to languish in police custody since July 9.As per the statement issued to KNS, Hurriyat (G) leader said that amid pro-freedom slogans, Geelani stepped out from his Hyderpora residence to lead a protest towards Mazar-e-Shuhada. “Police however foiled the march and detained him outside of his residence at Airport road along with Muslim League (ML) leader, Abdul Ahad Parra. They were taken into the custody,” he said.
Meanwhile, as per Hurriyat (M) statement issued to KNS, the spokesman of the amalgam said that “Hurriyat (M) Chairman, Mirwaiz Dr. Molvi Mohammad Umar Farooq was detained and was lodged in Police Station Nigeen while heading towards the Mazar-i-Shuhada Eidgah Srinagar to pay Homage to Shaheed-e- Azeemat Sheikh Abdul Aziz and Matrys of 2008 on their 8th Martyrdom Anniversary as per the joint programme announced by resistance leadership.”Reports said that a rally forces lobbed teargas shells into a rally heading towards Mazar-e-Shuhada.Scores of people led by Hurriyat leader Masroor Abbas Ansari took out a march from Khanqah-e-Sokhta Nawa Kadal and headed towards the martyrs' graveyard at Eidgah.
However, forces intercepted them on Nallahmar road.“Forces fired teargas shells to disperse the protesters,” said a witness, adding that police detained Ansari near Byarpora Chowk and lodged him in Police Station Safa Kadal.Prior to this, Geelani and Mirwaiz were similarly arrested after they tried to move towards Anantnag on July 25, Kulgam on July 27, Jamia Masjid on July 29 and Dargah on August 05.Reports said that the leaders were taken into preventive custody for hours and were later released.It is worth to mention here that forces were deployed on the roads and streets leading to Mazar-e-Shuhada and had erected concertina wires at all entry and exit points to foil the march called by separatists.The joint leadership had called for ‘Mazar-e-Shuhada chalo’ today to pay homage to Sheikh Abdul Aziz and martyrs of 2008 and 2010 unrests.The leadership have been issuing protest programmes in view of the civilian killings that took place during the current protests that started a day after the killing of Hizb commander, Burhan Wani in a ‘gunfight’ on July 8 in Bumdoora village of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district. (KNS)