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| No political detainees released on the eve of Eid-ul-Azha | | Geelani, Mirwaiz, Shabir, Nayeem under house arrest | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
SRINAGAR, Nov 16: With the Valley gearing up to celebrate Eid-ul-Azha in a big way on the next three days, Government has put some of the prominent separatist leaders under house arrest in order to ensure that there was no repetition of the mayhem witnessed on occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr on September 11th this year.
Those detained at their respective residences in the capital city include Chairman of the hadline faction of Hurriyat Conference, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Chairman of the moderate faction of Hurriyat, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq alongwith his key aide Shahidul Islam, Chairman of Democratic Freedom Party, Shabir Ahmed Shah, and Chairman of the National Front, Mohammad Nayeem Khan.
Official sources, however, clarified that a number of separatist leaders, including Prof Abdul Ghani Bhat, Maulvi Abbas Ansari, Bilal Gani Lone, Aga Syed Hassan, Mohammad Yasin Malik and Maulana Shaukat Shah, would be free to offer congregational Eid prayers at the mosques or Eidgahs of their choice.
SSP Srinagar, Syed Ashiq Hussain Bukhari, told Early Times that only those who had threatened to take out political rallies or had any potential or intention of creating a law and order situation, had been forced to remain indoors. He said that Government had put in all necessary security arrangements and there were no reasons to perceive any credible threat to peace and tranquility.
Sources elaborated that Mirwaiz had been detained at his residence in Nageen area, near Hazratbal, in view of his breaking the promise of maintaining peace while leading a rally from Eidgah to Lalchowk on Eid-ul-Fitr. A group of participants of his rally had extensively damaged Clock Tower at Lalchowk and thereafter torched a number of Government offices, including the office of IG Crime, at Exhibition Grounds on that eventful day. Shahid-ul-Islam said that Mirwaiz and he had been actually detained on Thursday last and never allowed to move out in the last six days.
Congregational prayers would be held all over the Valley in the forenoon tomorrow at different mosques, Eidgahs and Imambaras. Largest gatherings of 30,000 each are expected to perform Eid prayers at Eidgah and Hazratbal in Srinagar.
While Imam Hai would be leading the Eid prayers after delivering the sermon in absence of Mirwaiz Umar at Eidgah, Jamiat-e-Ahl-e-Hadith Chief, Maulana Showkat, has declared to lead the prayers at TRC Grounds in Civil Lines. JKLF Chairman, Yasin Malik, is also expected to participate in the same congregation. Both, according to sources, have conveyed their assurances to the authorities that they would not be creating or instigating any disturbance or a political scene. Geelani has announced to join the Eid prayers at Hazratbal and thereafter lead a rally. However, there is no possibility of his moving out in view of heavy Police bandobust around his house at Hyderpora.
It was not immediately clear whether any leaders of the ruling National Conference would venture out for Eid prayers at Hazratbal in view of the perceptible improvement in the situation in the last one month.
As the hardliners' calls for shutdown and civil curfew have failed to generate any impact in the last 15 days, Geelani has not issued his much expected advice of observing the festival with simplicity. On the eve of the festival, youngsters were seen enjoying firecrackers today. Srinagar and all other major townships in the Valley have witnessed massive shopping and traffic jams in the last four days.
Contrary to tradition and expectations in the separatist camp, Government has not released any political detenues on the eve of Eid. Officials, however, added that "few of the detained stones" had been released on parole to enable them celebrate Eid with their families and also participate in their annual examinations.
Reports from Jammu said that hundreds of the Durbar Move employees of the state government returned to the Valley today to join their families in celebrating Eid and sacrificing lambs and goats. According, there would be a virtual holiday in the offices on Friday next. For most of the state government employees it would mean holiday of five days running from tomorrow. |
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