Four leaders of moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference were taken into preventive custody on Saturday when they tried to go to Chankipora-Sopore in Baramulla district,the site of a gunbattle early this week,official sources said. Khalil Mohammad Khalil,Abdul Rashid Antoo,Shabir Ahmad Andrabi and Mohammad Yousuf Naqash were deputed by the Hurriyat to visit Chankipora,to assess the destruction caused by the gunbattle,during which 32 houses were damaged. Police detained them outside the amalgam's headquarters at Rajbagh in the city as they tried to proceed to Chankipora,55 kms from here,the sources said. Chankipora had witnessed a fierce gunbattle on Tuesday in which four armymen,including a captain,and two militants were killed besides 32 houses were damaged. The operation had lasted for three days. At least 17 houses were completely destroyed and 15 others partially damaged in the operation.
