SRINAGAR: Authorities have finally prevented the separatist triumvirate from proceeding to Delhi to offer their arrest to the NIA. They, however, were arrested for “mobilising the people” to “create law and order situation” and not for going to Delhi.
Kashmir conflic“We will permit them to go to Delhi if they wish to go individually,” a senior police officer told Kashmir Life. “Instead, they are trying to mobilise people and create a situation.”
Already, most of Srinagar was put under formal “restrictions” as JKLF leader Yasin Malk was arrested around midnight and sent to Central Jail Srinagar. Mirwaiz was restricted to his home by putting additional forces around his mansion. Geelani is already under house arrest.
The arrest coincided with the visit of Home Minister Rajnath Singh who landed in Srinagar for a four days visit to the state.
Police said they restricted the two separatist leaders because mobilising people would have created a serious law and order situation. The three leaders last week had announced to fly to Delhi and offer themselves for the arrest to the NIA. This, they said, is inevitable in wake of the “terror” that NIA is spreading in Kashmir.
The tensions marked the beginning of Singh’s visit. Leading a high-level delegation of the officials, Singh is scheduled to have detached meetings with governor N N Vohra, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. He will also speak to the state police and CRPF and review various developmental packages currently in operation. A number of delegations from civil society are meeting him, officials said. Singh would fly to Jammu after two days.
