Mirwaiz detained, about 20 injured in Kashmir violence

Srinagar, Apr 25 (UNI) Chairman of the Hurriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq was today taken into preventive custody along with about a dozen supporters while six other leaders of the amalgam were put under house arrest in the valley.

However, a police spokesman said Mirwaiz Omar was removed to safety and escorted to home safely since he has the Z-plus security.

About 20 people were injured after police lobbed teargass shells and resorted to baton charge to disperse the HC processionists who were heading towards the United National Military Observers Group (UNMOG) at Sonawar.

The HC (M) had announced that they would present a memorandum to UNMOG today when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrived in Jammu on a two-day visit.

Official sources said the Mirwaiz was arrested about a dozen of his supporters this afternoon near the UNMOG where he had gone to present a memorandum.

Immediately after the Friday prayers were over in the historic Jamia Masjid, the HC activists took out a procession.

As they reached near Munwarabad, police intercepted them and asked the activists to disperse. However, when the processionsts refused and insisted that they should be allowed to move forward, police fired teargass shells and resorted to lathicharge.

They said about 20 people were injured in the teargassing and stone throwing incidents in the down town.

A police spokesman said a procession led by the Mirwaiz Farooq, left Jamia Masjid after the Friday prayers, which comprised 1100 people approximately.

As there was no permission for taking out the procession from the competent authority, the processionists were asked to disperse near Ikhwan Chowk.

However, some of the processionists instead of dispersing peacefully started pelting stones.

He said in view of the fact that Mirwaiz Farooq was a protected person of Z+ category, he was removed to safety.

Later on Mirwaiz was escorted home safety.

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