Kashmiri separatist leaders Mirwaiz, Geelani under house arrest

Srinagar, Aug 8 : All Party Hurriyat Conference Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Hurriyat Conference (G) Chairman Sayed Ali Shah Geelani were placed under house arrest on Friday as a shutdown entered its fifth day in the Kashmir Valley over the Amarnath land row.

"It is most unfortunate the way the Government has cracked down upon the Hurriyat leaders, including myself. Our workers are being harassed by the police. They have been asked not get out of their houses. This is a clear indication of the frustration of the government," said Farooq. Condemning his house arrest, Geelani said: "This is my sixth day under house arrest. Only those who have put me under house arrest can tell you why they have done so. All I can say is that this has been happening against Muslims who are protesting against those who think on communal lines."

Meanwhile, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Rising Star Corps Lieutenant General Vinay Sharma issued a warning against violent protests in the state over the Amarnath land row.

A curfew has been imposed in Poonch, and the army has staged a flag march here as a precautionary measure.

According to sources, curfew was imposed in Poonch following some incidents of violence and stone pelting there on Thursday. It is a precautionary measure to prevent any untoward incident.

Activists of the Shri Amarnath Sangarsh Samiti (SASS), spearheading the agitation, had on Thursday forced closure of educational institutes, government offices and banks.

They also indulged in stone pelting on post offices and the telephone exchange The SASS is demanding revocation of the decision stalling the transfer of nearly 100 acres of forest land to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB).

ANI