Kashmiri separatist leaders held ahead of rally

Srinagar, July 12 : The authorities in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday detained all separatist leaders here ahead of a rally called by them.

Separatist leaders, including Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, Muhammad Yasin Malik and Shabir Shah, were placed under house arrest, a police officer told IANS.

"This has been done as a preventive measure to maintain law and order ahead of a rally called by them tomorrow (Monday)," the officer said.

The separatists have called the rally to coincide with "Martyrs Day" which is observed to commemorate the martyrdom of 31 people who were killed in firing by troops of the then Maharaja in Srinagar in 1931.

IANS