Srinagar: Moderate Hurriyat group’s chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq was Tuesday placed under house arrest while authorities have decided to impose restrictions in old city areas of Srinagar to thwart a march he has called for Wednesday, an official said.
The Mirwaiz had called for a march Wednesday to the martyrs’ graveyard in Eidgah grounds to commemorate the death of his father, late Mirwaiz Muhammad Farooq, and another senior separatist leader, Abdul Gani Lone.
He has been placed under house arrest in his uptown Nigeen residence in the city.
Confirming that there would be restrictions in areas falling under seven police station areas – Nowhatta, Khanyar, Rainawari, M.R. Gunj, Safakadal, Krulkhud and Zadibal – Wednesday, a senior district administration official said these were being imposed to maintain law and order.
While the elder Mirwaiz was killed by unidentified gunmen in his house May 21, 1990, Lone was killed by gunmen in the Eidgah grounds on May 21, 2002 during a separatist rally.