STATE TIMES NEWS
SRINAGAR: Hardline Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani was on Wednesday arrested by police after he tried to defy restrictions to march towards Kulgam district of south Kashmir.
Geelani was arrested by police at New Airport Road outside his Humhama residence, a Hurriyat spokesman said. He said the separatist leader, who was under house arrest, was then taken to Police Station Humhama. The separatists had called for a march to Kulgam district, which has seen 10 deaths in the unrest in the Valley.
“Geelani tried to march towards Kulgam to participate in a rally for expressing solidarity with people,” the spokesman said.
Chairman of moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was also taken into custody as he tried to lead a march to Kulgam.
“Mirwaiz was arrested while he was leaving for Kulgam. A heavy contingent of police arrived at his residence and took him into custody,” a spokesman of the Hurriyat said.
Meanwhile, curfew was on Wednesday reimposed in parts of Kashmir including five police station areas of the city to thwart a separatist march to Kulgam district even as mobile services were partially restored in the Valley which has been rocked by violence since July 8.
Authorities had lifted curfew from Kashmir except Anantnag town on Tuesday following which it was rocked by fresh protests.
A 61-year-old man had died in a road accident during clashes in the city yesterday and 14 others were injured in action by security forces across Kashmir, where 47 people have been killed in violence since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8.
“Curfew has been reimposed in entire Kulgam district and Anantnag town as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order,” a police official said.
He said curfew was also imposed in five police station areas of Srinagar city — Khanyar, Rainawari, Maharaj Gunj, Safa Kadal and Nowhatta — while restrictions were imposed on assembly of four or more persons in jurisdiction of Maisuma and Kralkhud police stations.
“Restrictions are also in place in remaining districts of the Valley,” he added.
Authorities partially restored mobile telephone services, which were snapped on July 15, at midnight.
“Postpaid mobile connections were restored late last night in view of the improving situation in the Valley,” the official said.
Some prepaid connections were also working but authorities did not clarify whether all connections have been restored. Meanwhile, normal life remained paralysed for the 19th consecutive day today in view of a strike called by the separatist camp, which had called for a march to Kulgam district for paying tribute to those killed in the clashes with security forces. Schools, colleges and business establishments remained closed while public transport remained off roads. Attendance in government offices was very thin, an official said.
Among those killed in the violence are two policemen while 5,500 persons, including over 3,000 security personnel, have been injured.
