Police foils separatist attempts to march

Srinagar: Police on Saturday thwarted attempts by separatist leaders Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who are under house arrest, to take out processions from their residences to Lal Chowk.

In the first instance, Mirwaiz, the chairman of moderate Hurriyat Conference, came out from his Nigeen residence, located on the outskirts of Srinagar, this afternoon. He was immediately detained by the police and taken to Nigeen police station, officials said.

Separately, Geelani, who heads the hardline faction of Hurriyat Conference, also tried to take out a march from his Hyderpora residence on Srinagar-Airport road. However, the police stopped the octogenarian leader, following which he along with his supporters staged a sit-in on link road.