Geelani, Mirwaiz detained while trying to visit Aripanthan

Srinagar, Aug 19 (PTI) Hurriyat Conference leaders SyedAli Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq were detained todayafter they tried to visit Aripanthan village in Budgamdistrict where four persons were killed in CRPF firing onTuesday. Geelani was arrested soon after he came out of hisHyderpora residence here to offer Friday prayers inAripanthan, a spokesman of the hardline HurriyatConference said. Mirwaiz, who was carrying a placard which read "stop stateterrorism", was also taken into preventive custody when hetried to lead a march to Aripanthan from his Nigeen residencein the outskirts of the city, moderate Hurriyat Conferencesaid in a statement. The separatist camp, which has been spearheading theongoing agitation in the Valley, had called for a march toAripanthan area of Budgam for protesting against the killingof four persons in CRPF firing on August 16. Meanwhile, the Hazratbal shrine on the banks of DalLake here witnessed a protest demonstration shortly afterFriday prayers. Soon after the prayers ended at the shrine, people who hadgathered there, shouted slogans to protest the killings in theongoing unrest and in support of "freedom", officials said. They said the demonstration later ended peacefully. While the Friday prayers were held at the shrine, noprayers could be offered at Jamia Masjid, the grand old mosquein downtown Srinagar where Mirwaiz usually delivers thesermons ahead of the prayers, for the sixth consecutiveFriday. PTI MIJ AQS ZMNAQS