Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Apr 27: Police today foiled the scheduled funeral-in-absentia programme of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) for its patron and co-founder, Amanullah Khan, by imposing restrictions in Lal Chowk here in city centre.
Since early morning, dozens of police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were deployed in Lal Chowk areas including Maisuma, Budshah Chowk, Court Road, Residency Road and Red Cross Road. The security forces had sealed roads leading to Lal Chowk by erecting barricades and concertina wires.
In view of funeral-in-absentia programme, the police early in the morning detained JKLF chairman, Mohammad Yasin Malik, from his Maisuma residence and lodged him at Kothi Bagh police station. The Maisuma neighbourhood, which houses JKLF headquarters, was sealed from all sides.
The JKLF had yesterday announced to hold funeral-in-absentia for its founding leader, Amanullah Khan, at Budshah Chowk. Amid restrictions, nearly a dozen JKLF leaders and activists attempted to march towards Budshah Chowk but police didn’t allow them to proceed ahead.
In the meanwhile, Minister in the PDP-BJP coalition, Sajjad Gani Lone, attended the funeral-in-absentia of the late separatist veteran at Sanat Nagar on city outskirts. Lone is married to Amanullah Khan’s daughter, Asma. Besides Lone, dozens of other people also attended the funeral.
The funeral-in-absentia was also held at Bagh-e-Mehtab on city outskirts here, Kupwara Town and Trehgam in North Kashmir. An attempt to hold the similar funeral was also made at Anantnag town but it was foiled by police.
In wake of the funeral-in-absentia call, the police placed moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq under house detention at his Nigeen residence here. Meanwhile, the funeral of the Amanullah Khan was held at Liaqat Bagh in Rawalpindi, the Garrison city of Pakistan.
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