Separatist leaders Geelani, Mirwaiz try to defy house arrest

Syed Ali Shah Geelani (Photo: Facebook)


Senior separatist leaders Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz Umer Farooq tried to defy house arrest restrictions on Wednesday in a bid to march to Shopian town in Jammu and Kashmir but were detained by police.

Geelani tried to come out of his uptown Hyderpora residence but policemen posted outside prevented him from doing so.

Geelani was placed under house arrest on Monday after 20 people, including 13 militants, three soldiers and four civilians, were killed in three gun battles in south Kashmir.

Mirwaiz Farooq, however, came out of his Nigeen residence defying house arrest restrictions to move towards Shopian town.

Police immediately took him to a nearby police station.

Separatists have called for a march to Shopian town on Wednesday to show solidarity with the people of the district who allege high-handedness by security forces.