Hurriyat’s March Thwarted; Three Leaders Arrested

Three Hurriyat Conference leaders, attempting to march in connection with Martyres day, were arrested on Monday as police thwarted their endeavour.

Cutting through tight security, three moderate Hurriyat leaders, president of J-K Liberation Forum Javid Ahmad Mir, leader of Mirwaiz Umer Farooq-led Awami Action Committee, Shahidul Islam and leader of Shabir Shah-led Democratic Freedom Party, Waseem Lone, were taken into custody by police as soon as they turned up Lal Chowk in the morning, sources said.

At around 11 in the morning, they appeared at the Chowk, the nerve centre of the city, shouting pro-freedom slogans, but police nabbed them and took them to nearby Kothibagh police station, said sources.

It may be mentioned that the Martyrs Day is being observed in the state in memory of 22 Kashmiris, who were martyred here on this day 78 years ago while protesting against the then autocratic rule.

The state government has already ordered a holiday on Monday, July 13 in this connection.

Chief spokesman of Hurriyat, Syed Saleem Geelani said, “We will not be cowed down by the restrictions.”

“We will assemble at the martyr’s graveyard at 11 am and later take out a peaceful march to Lal Chowk as per the already announced programme,” Chief spokesman of Hurriyat Syed Saleem Geelani said.

“By placing Hurriyat chairman under house arrest on Thursday and making fresh arrests and restricting the movement of other leaders, the government has shown its frustration,” he said strongly condemning the action of the State.

He said that Hurriyat has already brought to the notice of the concerned authorities about its programme of organising a mammoth gathering at Lal Chowk to pay homage to the martyrs, but they have not responded positively so far.

“We will go ahead with our today’s programme of Martyrs Day,” he said.