Srinagar, May 7 : Police on Monday foiled a protest march by separatists to Civil Secretariat against the killing of five civilians in security force action in Shopian on Sunday and detained moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq.
The Civil Secretariat, the seat of J&K government, and other related offices re-opened in this summer capital on Monday, after functioning in the winter capital, Jammu, for six months as part of the pre-independence practice known as ‘Darbar Move’.
Police also foiled the protest march by traders to Civil Secretariat who were protesting against the Shopian killings.
Meanwhile, hardline Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani remained under house arrest while JKLF chief Yasin Malik has been lodged in Central Jail, Srinagar since May 5.
Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL), comprising Geelani, Mirwaiz and Malik had called for a general strike and urged people to march towards Civil Secretariat to hold sit-in against the Shopian killings.
Defying house arrest restrictions, Mirwaiz came out of his Nigeen residence and tried to take out a protest march towards Civil Secretariat today along with his supports and other separatist leaders. However, security forces deployed in the area stopped Mirwaiz from moving ahead.
As the Mirwaiz and other leaders didn’t back out, security forces took the moderate HC chairman into custody. “The Mirwaiz has been lodged in Nigeen police station,” a spokesperson of moderate HC told UNI.
Holding placards, scores of Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation (KTMF) leaders and workers led by its chairman Muhammad Yaseen Khan hit the streets at Abi Guzar to protest against the Shopian killings.
However, as the protesting traders tried to march towards Civil Secretariat, security forces deployed in the area stopped them from moving ahead and took about 30 KTMF leaders into custody. “About 30 KTMF leaders, including Mr Khan and other functionaries, were later lodged in Kothi Bagh Police station,” a spokesperson of KTMF told UNI.
“We were holding a peaceful protest against the civilian killings. It is ironic that even a peaceful protest is not permitted by the government. Peaceful protest is an essence of democracy, but in Kashmir it is an offence,” he added.
Five youth were killed and about 30 others received bullet and pellet injuries in security force action in Shopian on demonstrators who hit the streets after five militants of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM), including a top commander and Assistant Professor of Kashmir University (KU) turned militant, were killed in an encounter on Sunday. UNI
Civilian killings: Police foils separatists, traders march to civil secretariat, Mirwaiz held
Kashmir Age
We are a team of journalists, editors, and contributors committed to bringing authentic stories and reliable news from every corner of Jammu and Kashmir with integrity...
We are a team of journalists, editors, and contributors committed to bringing authentic stories and reliable news from every corner of Jammu and Kashmir with integrity and professionalism.
