The authorities on Friday imposed restrictions in old parts of Srinagar to foil a protest march proposed by separatists towards the United National Military Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) headquarters here. Police took JKlF leader Yasin Malik into custody when he attempted to lead protesters from a mosque. Several separatist leaders including Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Shabir Shah and Nayeem Khan were put under house arrest to prevent their attempts to mobilize people.
The authorities have sounded alert in the Valley in the wake of protests called by separatist leadership to commemorate the death anniversaries of Afzal Guru and Muhammad Maqbool Bhat who were hanged in Delhi’s Tihar jail on February 9, 2013 and February 11, 1984 respectively. The separatists are demanding return of the mortal remains of the two Kashmiris who were buried in the premises of Tihar jail after being out to gallows.
Following a shutdown in the Valley on Guru’s anniversary, the separatists had called for a march towards the UNMOGIP office in Srinagar to hand over a memorandum demanding UN intervention for the resolution of vexed Kashmir issue.
The authorities, however, imposed restrictions in the sensitive areas of old Srinagar and disallowed holding congregational on Friday prayers at central mosque where Mirwaiz Farooq delivers weekly sermon.