Ahead of proposed joint rally by separatist leaders to commemorate 1931 Martyrs, authorities Sunday placed most of them under house arrest to prevent them from reaching Jamia Masjid and marching towards the Mazar-e-Shuhada on Monday.
Hurriyat (G) chairman Syeed Ali shah Geelani, Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, JKLF chairman Mohamamd Yasim Mailk along with other separatist leaders have called for a joint march from Jamia Masjid to Mazar-e-Shuhada to pay homage to the martyrs of 13 July 1931.
Huriyat (G) spokesman Ayaz Akbar told KNS over phone that Police have detained him in his house. “Geelani Sahab is already under going house arrest while police on Sunday raided houses of many of Hurriyat (G) activists ahead of Martyrs Day rally,” he said.
Hurriyat (M) spokesperson Shahid-Ul-Islam, informed KNS that, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, was put under house around Sehri time on Sunday.
JKLF chairman that Muhammad Yasin Malik was also put under house arrest on Saturday late evening while its member Noor Muhammad Kalwal was arrested by police yesterday.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
Sources said that Shabir Ahmad Shah and Nayeem Khan too are also under house detention.
Significantly, separatists put up a joint face Saturday evening at Geelani’s residence. Mirwaiz Umar, Yasin Malik attended an Iftaar party organized by Hurriyat (G) and vowed to carry on the struggle, ‘altogether’.
Sources said that authorities also detained Tehreek-e-Hurriyat leader, Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai.
It is to mention here that for the first time in 25 years, the separatists have not called for a general strike on Martyrs’ Day on July 13, in view of the fasting month of Ramzan.
The legacy of July 13 Martyrs incident, in which 21 protestors were killed in firing by Dogra Army outside Srinagar Central Jail in 1931, is claimed by both the mainstream political parties and the separatist groups.
While the day is observed as an official holiday every year, the separatists have been calling for a general strike on this day since 1990 to commemorate the sacrifices.KNS