Separatists detained ahead of Martyrs' Day in Indian-controlled Kashmir
Xinhua, July 13, 2015 Adjust font size:
The authorities in Indian-controlled Kashmir on Sunday placed top separatist leaders under house arrest, while keeping others in police stations ahead of Martyrs' Day in the restive region.
Separatist groups have planned a joint rally on July 13 to mark the day.
In view of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, separatists have not called for a shutdown (otherwise a regular feature) on Martyrs' Day for the first time since 1989.
The hardliner Syed Ali Geelani, moderate Mirwaiz Umar farooq and pro-independent Mohammed Yasin Malik have called for a joint march from Srinagar's grand mosque to Mazar-e-Shuhada (martyrs' graveyard) at the local shrine of Naqshband Sahab in old city, to pay homage to the martyrs of July 13, 1931.
"A large contingent of police cordoned off the residence of Malik and placed him under house arrest, while his close aide Noor Mohammad Kalwal was arrested from his residence," Malik's spokesman told the media.
Like Malik, Farooq and Geelani have also been put under house arrest, besides other two leaders Shabir Ahmad Shah and Nayeem Ahmad Khan.
"Police raided houses of many other leaders and took them along to be detained in police stations," Geelani's spokesman said.
The steps were taken to thwart the proposed separatist rally.
The authorities feared that their participation in the rally would trigger anti-India demonstrations.
On Saturday evening, the region's top separatist leaders attended an Iftaar (fast breaking) party at Geelani's residence and vowed to carry on their resistance struggle.
July 13 in Indian-controlled Kashmir is observed as Martyrs' Day to pay homage to the people who were killed in 1931 by troopers of then autocratic Dogra ruler Maharaja Hari Singh.
Every year, local government in the region observes a function to remember these martyrs by visiting the graveyard and laying flower wreaths on the graves of martyrs.
The day is an official holiday across the region.
However, the separatist groups maintained that the struggle started by these martyrs was yet to reach its logical conclusion.
On July 13, 1931, twenty-two people fell to bullets while protesting against the oppressive Dogra rulers.
Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan. Since 1989, a strong separatist movement demanding end of New Delhi's rule has been going on in Indian-controlled Kashmir. Endi