Police on Friday detained Hurriyat (G) chairman, Syed Ali Geelani, Hurriyat (M) chairman, Mirwaiz Molvi Umar Farooq and Anjuman Shari Shian President, Aga Syed Hasan after they tried to lead a protest march towards Dargah.The separatist leadership including Geelani, Mirwaiz and JKLF chief in a joint statement had called for Dargah chalo march on today.However, police detained Geelani, Mirwaiz and Aga Syed outside their respective residences 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.Hurriyat (G) spokesman, amid pro-freedom slogans, Geelani defied the curfew and stepped out from his Hyderpora residence to lead a protest towards Dargah. “Police however foiled the march and detained him outside of his residence at Airport road. He was taken into the custody,” he said. As per Hurriyat (M) statement issued to KNS, the spokesman of the amalgam said that “Police had blocked the entrance of the lane leading to office-cum-residence of Mirwaiz. As soon as Mirwaiz tried to march towards Hazratbal at around 2.PM, police intercepted him and detained him.”
Spokesman said that it was a peaceful protest against the civilian killings in Kashmir. Meanwhile, Hurriyat (M) chairman condemned the action of authorities.According to the spokesman of Anjuman Shari Shian, police detained president of the amalgam along with scores of his supporters after they tried to march Dargah.“After the Friday congregations ended in the local Masjid at Budgam, Aga Syed along with his scores of supporters tried to march towards Dargah. However, police intercepted the protesters and detained Aga Syed along with scores of his supporters,” he said.Earlier, Geelani and Mirwaiz were similarly arrested after they tried to move towards Anantnag on July 25, Kulgam on July 27 and Jami Masjid on July 29.Reports said that the leaders were taken into preventive custody for hours and were later released.Meanwhile, people from several areas including Guru Bazar Habba Kadal, Nawa Kadal and others tried to march towards Dargah.Reports however, said that police intercepted the protesters from marching towards Dargah while the residents of Nawa Kadal later staged protest against the authorities for foiling their attempt.
Meanwhile, the Friday congregational prayers were not held in Dargah Hazratbal as the authorities banned people to offer prayers in the shrine.The people were not allowed to offer Friday congregational prayers in Dargah Hazratbal in view of the Dargah Chalo march called by the separatist leadership. According to KNS correspondent, forces were deployed on the roads and streets leading to Dargah and had erected concertina wires to foil the march called by separatists.The joint leadership had called for ‘Dargah chalo’ today to protest against the civilian killings in the valley.However, the state administration by imposing strict curfew and restriction across the Valley foiled the march called the leadership.Notably, the leadership started issuing strike programmes in view of the civilian killings that took place during the protests against the killing Hizb commander, Burhan Wani in a ‘gunfight’ on July 8 in Bumdoora village of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district. (KNS)