Half a dozen HC leaders under hosue arrest, Mir detained in Kashmir

Srinagar, Apr 25 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir police today put under house arrest about half-a-dozen senior leaders of Hurriyat Confernece (HC) headed by Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq.

The HC had announced that they will present a memorandum to United National Military Observers Group (UNMOG) at Sonawar on Friday when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrives at Jammu on a two-day visit.

Official sources said Javid Ahmad Mir, senior amalgam leader was arrested at Zainakadal in the down town today.

Mr Mir told UNI over phone from a police station where he was lodged that he has been arrested from his house by the police.

He said he was scheduled to join the procession from historic Jamia Masjid to UNMOG this afternoon after Friday prayers.

Sources said Shabir Ahmad Shah, Bilal Gani Lone, Moulana Abbas Ansari, Zafar Akbar Bhat and Nayeem Ahmad Khan were put under house arrest since this morning.

Mr Shah said they wanted to draw the attention of the world towards the plight of people of Kashmir.

We just wanted to hold a peaceful and silent demonstration and also present a memorandum to UNMOG at Sonawar.

A HC spokesman said through the memorandum they wanted to ask the world community why they are silent over the issue of 940 unidentified graves in north Kashmir.

The memorandum further asked how long innocent people of Kashmir will shed their blood, where are ten thousand people who went missing after their arrest during the past 19 years and how long the people of Jammu and Kashmir would be deprived of their right.

The spokesman said even though a number of senior leaders have been put under house arrest, the HC chairman will lead the procession from historic Jamia Masjid as per schedule.

UNI BAS BDP DS1357