Separatists defy curfew for south Kashmir march, detained

Srigar, July 25: Separatist leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq were taken into preventive custody on Monday after defying prohibitory orders as authorities enforced a strict curfew in the restive Kashmir Valley to foil a protest march to Antg. Geelani, who has been in detention at his residence in upscale Hyderpora neighbourhood, came out and attempted to march towards Antg in south Kashmir. However, policemen posted outside his house stopped him and drove him in a bullet proof armored vehicle to the nearby Humhama police station, a police officer told IANS. The Mirwaiz was also detained at a police station near his house when he defied restrictions and attempted to march towards Antg. Other separatist leaders including Shabir Shah have also been detained while Yaseen Malik of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) has been lodged in a Srigar lockup since violent protests erupted across the Kashmir Valley following the July 8 killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. The government on Monday tightened security screws across the Kashmir Valley to thwart the Antg march, fearing an outbreak of violent protests if people at the instigation of separatists came out in large numbers to reach south Kashmir. Police said strict curfew remained in Antg, Kulgam, Shopian and Pulwama districts in the south while restrictions also continued in parts of Srigar, Kupwara, Sopore and Baramulla. (IANS)