Hurriyat leaders placed under arrest

Restriction orders issued against several separatist leaders In an apparent move to scuttle anti-election campaign, the police on Friday, placed restrictions on the movement of eight separatist leaders, while four others were taken into preventive custody raising their number to nine, officials said in Srinagar.

Six leaders of hardline faction of Hurriyat Conference - Mohammad Ashraf Sahrai, Zamrooda Habib, Fareeda Behanji, Mohammad Ashraf Laya, Abdul Aziz Dar alias General Mousa and Raja Mehraj-du-din - were placed under house arrest by the police since Friday morning.

The separatists were placed under house arrest to stop them from addressing Friday congregations, the sources said.

Similar restrictions were also placed on chairman of National Front Nayeem Ahmad Khan and President of National Peoples Party Syed Saleem Geelani - both leaders of moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference.

Chairman of hardline faction of Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Shah Geelani continued to be under house arrest at his Hyderpora residence since April 12, officials said. Two each leaders of both factions of Hurriyat Conference - hardliners Firdous Ahmad Shah and Mohammad Yousuf Fallai and moderates Hakeem Abdul Rashid and Javid Ahmad Mir - were taken into custody by police from different areas of the city, police said.

Last week, police arrested five leaders of both the factions including spokesman of hardline faction of Hurriyat, Ayaz Akbar as preventive measure.