Jamaat-e-Islamia leader Geelani detained

The J&K police detained fire-brand Jamaat-e-Islamia leader from his residence in Hyderpora, hours before the separatists were planning to march to Lal Chowk.

In a late night swoop, the Jammu and Kashmir police on Sunday night detained fire-brand Jamaat-e-Islamia leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani from his residence in Hyderpora, hours before the separatists were planning to march to Lal Chowk.

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Police accompanied by para-military forces came to his residence in Hyderpora and picked him up. He was whisked away to an unknown destination, official sources said.

It was not immediately clear whether he had been placed under arrest but sources said that Public Safety Act could be invoked on him.

Meanwhile, army had been pressed into service to maintain safety of the national highways leading to Kupwara and Leh as separatists leaders including Shabir Shah, Nayeem Khan and Masarat Alam were likely to lead processions towards Lal Chowk.

These leaders had managed to escape arrest and police was looking for them.