Separatist leaders arrested ahead of protest march to Jamia Masjid

Police on Friday arrested separatist leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq as they tried to march from their residences to Jamia Masjid in Srinagar’s Nowhatta area.

Police on Friday arrested separatist leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq as they tried to march from their residences to Jamia Masjid in Srinagar’s Nowhatta area.

Separatist leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq were arrested as they tried to march from their residences to Jamia Masjid in Srinagar’s Nowhatta area. (Waseem Andrabi / HT File Photo)

“Geelani was arrested by police as he tried to defy the house arrest orders,” a spokesperson of the hardline Hurriyat Conference said.

He said a police team whisked Geelani away to Humhama police station.

A spokesperson of the moderate Hurriyat Conference said its chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was also arrested and taken to Nigeen police station as he tried to march to Jamia Masjid for Friday prayers.

The separatist camp had jointly called for a protest march against the recent civilian deaths in security forces action during the clashes in the wake of the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8.

Authorities have imposed strict curfew in the city to thwart any such attempts.

Friday prayers were not offered at the Jamia Masjid for the third consecutive week due to the ongoing unrest.