Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, June 18: In order to foil the separatist protest march to Sopore, Police today rounded up dozens of Hurriyat Conference leaders and activists and put under house arrest chairmen of both the factions of Hurriyat, Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Omar Farooq.
The crackdown was launched following Sopore march call issued by all separatist leaders including Geelani, Mirwaiz, JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik and senior separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah. The Sopore march was called against the killing of four activists of Hurriyat Conference and former militants.
A senior police officer said that there will be restrictions on the movement of people in Sopore tomorrow to foil separatist march. He, however, said that people with emergencies will be allowed to proceed to their respective destinations.
All the roads leading to Sopore will be sealed and no one be allowed to proceed towards Sopore. Police and para-military CRPF have been deployed in strength to foil any protests.
The restrictions are also being imposed in parts of Srinagar to foil attempts by separatists to create trouble in the city. Besides this, police and CRPF are being deployed in full strength in sensitive areas of the city.
Police have put separatist leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai under house arrest.
JKLF chairman Yasin Malik was held by police last night ahead of Sopore march and has been lodged in Kothi Bagh Police Station
Democratic Freedom Party chairman, Shabir Ahmad Shah and National Front chairman, Nayeem Khan, have also been detained by police ahead of march.
Gunmen in Sopore killed six people since May 25 including former militants and a Hurriyat activist. Police blamed Hizbul Mujahideen splinter group behind the attacks while separatist blame the security forces.
Police have also announced rewards of Rs 10 lakh each to the informants for giving information about whereabouts of militant commanders, Qayoom Najjar and Imtiaz Ahmad Kandoo who they say are behind the killings.
In the meantime, major offensive against the assailants of six people who were killed since last month continues. Police, Army and CRPF conducted massive searches in Mahrajpora, Hathi Shah, Harwan forest area and Noor Bagh areas of Sopore against the splinter group of Hizbul Mujahideen.
DIG North Kashmir, Gareeb Dass said that security forces are conducting round the clock patrolling to prevent any further killings in Sopore. The patrols will be intensified during morning, evening and night prayers in the Holy month of Ramadhan so that month passes off peacefully and people get sense of security.
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