Authorities detained two top separatists, Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, under various sections of the Unlawful Activities Act, as the situation continued to remain grim in the valley following the death of another youth in Pulwama on Friday, taking the toll in the recent unrest in the state to 69.
JKLF chief Yasin Malik, who was arrested on July 9, will be flown to New Delhi on Saturday , ostensibly for a check-up at AIIMS.
The three Hurriyat men had constituted a group, ‘joint resistance force’, in June to spearhead the agitation against the “proposed establishment of Sainik colony, a separate cluster for Kashmiri Pandits, and industrial policies that allow non-locals to get lease of land for 90 years in the state”.
Police sources said Hurriyat hardliner Geelani was detained at his Hyderpora residence and barred from meeting anybody. Mirwaiz, the head of the moderate Hurriyat faction, was lodged in a J&K tourism development hut at the Chesmashahi tourist resort.
A JKLF statement said authorities were shifting Yasin to Delhi on the pretext of admitting him to AIIMS for medical tests. A spokesman said authorities at Srinagar’s Central Jail approached the JKLF’s incarcerated chair man, advising him to take the medical tests, which are not available in Srinagar, as prescribed by doctors.
Shakeel Ahmad Ganai, the youth killed in Pulwama on Friday , was hit when the security forces acted to foil the ‘eidgah chalo’ call by imposing strict curfew in Rajpora area.Scores of people were injured as clashes erupted after the Friday prayers across the valley .
Sources said no sooner did the news of Ganai’s death spread, hundreds of people took to the streets in Rajpora villages and staged massive protests, chanting pro-freedom and anti-India slogans. Security forces came under heavy stone-pelting, and responded by firing teargas shells and pellets, injuring eight people.
Centre looks to replace Vohra as governor
As the Centre looks for ways to restore normalcy in J&K, the possible replacement of governor N N Vohra is one of the several steps under consideration. Sources in the government told TOI on Friday that some probable candidates have already been identified, though the final decision is yet to be taken. Vohra, a veteran who served as Union home secretary, principal secretary to ex-PM IK Gujral and also as Centre’s interlocutor on J&K, brought rich experience to the office of governor. However, after the prolonged unrest in the valley , there is a growing feeling that Vohra does not have the reflexes any longer to deal with a situation that poses an altogether different challenge with the jihadi elements having taken over.
Govt corners Separatists to bring peace in Valley; Centre looks to replace Vohra
