HC leaders under house arrest in JK

Srinagar, Jun 23: About half a dozen senior leaders of both the factions of the Hurriyat Conference (HC) were today put under house arrest to prevent them from participating in the scheduled demonstrations against the transfer of forest land to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB).

However, police raided the Hyderpora residence of chairman of the breakaway HC, Syed Ali Shah Geelani several times, who had already left for some undisclosed place.

Official sources said those put under house arrest included Shabir Ahmad Shah, Javid Ahmad Mir and Nayeem Ahmad Khan of moderate HC.

They said a large number of police personnel have been deployed outside the residence of these leaders who have been informed that they have been put under house arrest and cannot leave untill further orders.

Similarly, Mohammad Ashraf Sahrayee and Mohammad Ashraf Laya of breakaway Hurriyat conference HC were also put under house arrest since early this morning.

A spokesman for the HC, Aiyaz Akbar told the sources that police has informed both the leaders that they cannot leave their houses since they have been put under house arrest.

Mr Akbar said police raided the house of Mr Geelani several times since early morning. However, he said, Mr Geelani had left for some undisclosed place last night.

He said programme to take out a procession from Khankaha-e-Moula in the down town in protest against the transfer of forest land to SASB stands.

However, he alleged that a large number of police personnel had been deployed in the entire area of Khankaha-e-Moula to prevent the HC supporters and others from join the procession.

Undeclared curfew has been imposed there, Mr Akbar alleged.

Both the chairmen Mr Geelani and Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq, presently in Pakistan, have announced to protest against the land transfer to SASB in the afternoon.

UNI