6 breakaway Hurriyat leaders taken into custody in Kashmir

Srinagar, Jun 17 (UNI) Six leaders of the breakaway Hurriyat Conference (HC) were taken into custody by police at Pratap Park here during a signature campaign against transfer of forest land to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB).

Official sources said they were arrested for violating prohibitory orders.

A spokesman of the Hurriyat Aiyaz Akbar told UNI six leaders of the amalgam were arrested at Partap Park near Press Enclave and lodged in Kothibagh police station without any ''justification.'' He said the leaders identified as Mohammad Yousuf Mir, Syed Iftikhar Hyder, Abdul Ahad, Shabir Ahmad, Peer Ataullah and Khazar Mohammad Gani were sitting on the roadside without violating any rules.

Mr Akbar said the Hurriyat has decided to launch a signature campaign from today to make aware people about the implications of transfer of 800 kanal forest land to the SASB by the government.

He said the campaign was to seek the feedback of the common people about this issue whether they support the transfer or reject it.

Mr Akbar condemned the arrest of the leaders and said the campaign will continue since it was an issue concerned to every citizen of the state.

Hurriyat activists also took to streets yesterday in protest against the transfer of land and demanded that the order be immediately withdrawn.

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