Srinagar: Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has been placed under house arrest while the authorities on Friday imposed restrictions in Srinagar’s old city in view of the protests called by Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) against ‘custodial killing’ of a private school teacher from Awantipora Pulwama earlier this week.
Witnesses told INS that a posse of police and paramilitary troopers has been deployed in in Nowhatta and adjacent areas and movement of people has been barred. The historic Jamia Masjid in Nowhatta has been also been sealed off by the authorities, they said.
Meanwhile, Mirwaiz was placed under house arrest at his Nigeen residence ahead of proposed JRL protest after Friday prayers against ‘custodial killing’ of Rizwan Pandith, the teacher who was arrested from his residence on Sunday. He “died in custody” even as police filed FIR under section 224 RPC (escape from custody).
“A posse of police personnel has been deployed outside the main gate of Mirwaiz’s residence in Nigeen,” said a spokesman of the amalgam said.