Sopore continues to be tense, more Hurriyat leaders held

SRINAGAR, MAY 26: Police on Friday took into preventive custody Hurriyat Conference leader Mirwaiz Moulvi Umer Farooq as he was going to a...

SRINAGAR, MAY 26: Police on Friday took into preventive custody Hurriyat Conference leader Mirwaiz Moulvi Umer Farooq as he was going to address a Friday congregation in Sopore town in northern Kashmir. Umer was detained along with over two dozen activists of the Conference from Pattan while proceeding to Sopore, police said.

A spokesman of the Hurriyat Conference, however, put the number of those detained by the police at about 100 and said Umer and other senior Hurriyat leaders and activists were on their way to Sopore to condole the death of six youths who were killed in an alleged encounter in Kupwara district 11 days back.

Police fired tear gas shells and used batons to disperse groups of youths protesting the arrest of the Hurriyat leaders in several areas in downtown Srinagar.

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A bandh was enforced in some localities as news of Umer’s detention spread and groups of people held demonstrations demanding immediate release of the leaders.

A complete shutdown was observed in Sopore and adjoining areas for the tenth day on Friday to protest the killing. The bodies of the youths were brought back to Sopore on Wednesday leading to strong protests and forcing authorities to enforce prohibitory orders in the town.

Police and paramilitary forces have intensifed patrolling in Sopore.

Chairman of the Hurriyat, Syed Ali Shah Geelani and four other senior leaders were arrested by the police from Pattan on Thursday.

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