The state government placed most separatist leaders under house arrest on Monday to stop them from visiting the family of Sopore victim Nazim Rashid (28), killed in police custody. Two mainstream leaders Mehbooba Mufti and Engineer Rashid were detained and stopped from traveling to Sopore by the police.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti was served a detention notice by Srinagar district magistrate asking her to stay at official residence in Srinagar.
"On her return to Srinagar, Mehbooba tried to proceed to Sopore but was intercepted at Ramn Munshi Bagh where the police forcibly stopped her from proceeding. She managed to reach the TRC Square where she sat for dharna for a while but was soon bundled into a police vehicle," said the spokesman. Syed Altaf Bukhari, Naeem Akhter and youth leader Imran Ansari were also detained.
In the morning, Mehobooba was allowed to attend the meeting of District Development Board in Shopian as she represents Wachi constituency from the district in the Assembly.
MLA Langate Er Rasheed was also arrested by police when he was on the way to Sopore to protest the custodial killing.
"I was leading a procession, including around 45 sarpanches of Langate constituency. Police stopped the procession at Wangam on Handwara-Baramulla highway and arrested me," said Er Rasheed in a statement.
{{/usCountry}}"I was leading a procession, including around 45 sarpanches of Langate constituency. Police stopped the procession at Wangam on Handwara-Baramulla highway and arrested me," said Er Rasheed in a statement.
{{/usCountry}}Most separatist leaders, including Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Nayeem Khan and Shabir Ahmad Shah continued to be under house arrest for second consecutive day on Monday.