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Authorities on Thursday booked hard-line Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani under the stringent Public Safety Act and placed moderate Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umer Farooq under house arrest to foil their planned all-party meet to chalk out the future course of action.
"We have booked him (Geelani) under PSA. There are a good number of grounds (for detention) against Geelani. I have signed the PSA warrant against Geelani and as per the orders, he would be lodged at sub-jail Cheshma Shahi," District Magistrate of Srinagar, Mehraj Ahmd Kakroo said.
Before being shifted to the sub-jail, Geelani was examined by doctors at the police control room.
Geelani, along with his close aide Mohmmad Ashraf Sehrai, was detained on June 20 by the police in Kupwara for allegedly making a provocative speech. He was arrested minutes after he had given the call for Kashmir bandh on June 21 against the killing of two youths Mohammad Rafiq Bangroo and his cousin Javid Ahmad Malla.
Mirwaiz was placed under house arrest on Thursday morning at Nigeen while the venue of the all-party meet, Mirwaiz Manzil at Rajourikadal, was sealed by the police, official sources said.
Other prominent leaders of moderate Hurriyat placed under house arrest today morning included Maulana Mohammad Abbas Ansari and his son Maulana Masroor Abbas.
The sources said over 40 activists and second rung leaders of the two factions of Hurriyat have been arrested in the last two days in the city.
The police had on June 22 arrested five leaders of the moderate faction, including acting chairman of Democratic Freedom Party Mohammad Abdullah Tari and Peoples Political
Front leader Musadiq Adil.
Senior leader of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat and spokesman of hardline faction of Hurriyat Ayaz Akbar was also taken into custody from his house at Maloora in Srinagar on June 22.
The crackdown against separatists came after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah blamed separatists for instigating the state youth to indulge in violence.
Sources said the chief minister has directed the police to launch a crackdown on separatists, who have been calling for strikes and were planning fresh protests.
"We have been directed to foil the all-party meet. We have detained many Hurriyat activists and second rung leaders and will continue the crackdown," police sources said.
Mirwaiz had called the meet to discuss the present situation in the valley and chalk out the future strategy.