Kashmir unrest: Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq detained during protest march towards Anantnag

The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Monday detained Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani when he was leading a march towards Anantnag. He was taken to the Humhama Police Station after being detained from outside his residence at New Airport Road here.

The Hurriyat leader had asked the people to move towards South Kashmir's Anantnag district and participate in a rally to be held at Lal Chowk there after the Zuhar (afternoon) prayers. The authorities on Monday imposed curfew in four south Kashmir districts to prevent a separatists called protest march. The police said strict curfew will remain in Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian and Pulwama districts while restrictions will continue in parts of Srinagar, Kupwara, Sopore and Baramulla.

According to reports, all senior separatist leaders, including Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, Yasin Malik and Shabir Shah, have been either placed under house arrest or taken into preventive custody by the authorities ever since the ongoing unrest started in the Valley on July 9. The separatists have extended their protest shutdown call till July 29.

Meanwhile, another injured youth Sameer Ahmad Wani succumbed to his injuries last evening, thereby taking the death toll to 49.