SRINAGAR, June 28: Authorities in Kashmir have placed most of the separatist leaders under house arrest to prevent them from visiting Khanyar area of old Srinagar where the gutted shrine of Sheikh Syed Abdul Qadir Geelani is located.
“Geelani Sahab has been placed under house arrest and is not being allowed to visit Dastgeer Sahab’s shrine,” Ayaz Akbar, spokesman of hardline Hurriyat leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, said.
Chairman of the moderate faction of the Hurriyat, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has also been stopped from moving out of his residence. Besides police have been deployed outside the house of senior separatist leader Shabir Ahmed Shah and Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front chairman, Muhammad Yasin Malik.
Meanwhile leaders of mainstream parties and members of the government have been visiting the spot to take stock of the situation.
The high profile leaders who visited the shrine include the Union minister for Health and Family welfare, Ghulam Nabi Azad and former Union minister and state Congress President, Prof. Saifuddin Soz.
Also Member of Parliament, Dr. karan Singh visited the spot.
“People of all faiths have deep regard for the shrine particularly those of the valley. Whenever i visited the valley i would pay obeisance at Dastgeer Sahab’s shrine,” Dr. Singh said.
Dr. Singh appealed to the people to maintain peace and harmony.
Besides the chief minister, many ministers and government officials also visited the shrine.
