Geelani, Omar under house-arrest, Shabir Shah goes underground

Srinagar, Aug 10 (UNI) Chairman of both the factions of Hurriyat Conference and a senior separatist leader were put under house-arrest while Shabir Ahmad Shah went underground in Kashmir.

Official sources said Mr Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq were put under house-arrest as a precautionary measure.

A spokesman of the breakaway Hurriyat Conference Ayaz Akbar told UNI that Mr Geelani remained under house-arrest since August 4.

Mr Akbar said a large number of police personnel remained deployed outside the Hyderpora residence of Mr Geelani.

Mr Akbar said another senior Hurriyat leader Mohammad Ashraf Sehrayi was also put under house-arrest since early this morning.

He said the move was to prevent them from participating in the ''Muzaffarabad Challo'' programme.

Both the factions of the Hurriyat Conference had given a call for Muzza challo in view of the economic blockade.

A spokesman of the moderate Hurriyat Conference Shahid-ul-Islam told UNI that chairman Mirwaiz Omar has also been put under house-arrest.

He said Mr Mirwaiz Omar was informed by a large number of police personnel, deployed outside his Nigeen residence that he can not move out of his residence till further orders.

However, police could not find senior Hurriyat leader Shabir Ahmad Shah, who had gone underground.

UNI BAS RSA NS1754