Mirwaiz, Malik detained for mobilising people ahead of Delhi visit: IGP

Srinagar, Sep 9: Confirming that separatists were detained as they were mobilising people before their visit to New Delhi which could have resulted in law and order problem in Srinagar, Kashmir Inspector General of Police Muneer Khan today said the police will still allow them to leave for the national capital if they agree to go so as normal passengers. Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief Mohammad Yasin Malik was again arrested while moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Moulvi Umar Farooq was placed under house arrest late last night. Hardline Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Shah Geelani remained under house arrest since last year. “We had yesterday released the separatist leaders (Mirwaiz and Malik) so that they could go anywhere they like. But, as soon as they were released, they mobilised people in Maisuma and downtown Srinagar for a rally,” Mr Khan told UNI. He said the separatist leaders were planning to go to the airport in a rally, which could have led to law and order problem in Srinagar. “So we had no other option, but to detain them for security reasons.” The IGP said had if they moved like normal passengers, they would have no problem in allowing them to go anywhere they wanted. “I’m still telling them, if they agree to go like normal passengers, we have no problem in allowing them to go anywhere they want.” Geelani, Mirwaiz and Malik had announced to go to New Delhi to stage protest and later court arrest outside National Investigation Agency (NIA) office in the national capital. They alleged that they were the main targets of NIA who are conducting raids and arresting people on flimsy grounds. They dared NIA to arrest them. The separatists decided to up the ante after 10 people, including spokespersons of both the factions of Hurriyat and two sons and son-in-law of Geelani, were arrested so far since July by NIA in connection with terror funding in the state. UNI