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Don't use mosques for refuge,
Hurriyat tells militants

The Hurriyat statement came as the Unified Headquarters warned that security forces reserved the right to take military action against those taking shelter in places of worship.

The Hurriyat's statement terming the use of mosques as an act of desecration, as also the warning by the headquarters, came shortly after six militants holed up in a mosque in Anantnag district were killed by security forces, ending a 48-hour stand-off on Tuesday.

Senior Hurriyat leader Abdul Ghani Lone told reporters that "militants should not bring religious places, including mosques, in the ambit of their activities as it amounts to desecration of the place of worship."

He also asked the army to respect the sentiments of the people and not to cause destruction to places of worships while dealing with militants taking refuge there.

In Jammu, the Unified Headquarters headed by Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah said in a public notice that the security forces reserved the right to take military action to "neutralise" insurgents, terrorists and criminals taking refuge in religious places.

The militants had taken refuge in mosques in the valley twice in less than a fortnight. On one occasion, they were given safe passage.

Lone endorsed Pakistani military ruler General Pervez Musharraf's call to jehadi groups to stop anti-India propaganda. "We extend full support to the call of Gen Musharraf and second his statement word by word."

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