Resistance leaders detained, Barred from briefing media

The Jammu and Kashmir Police today arrested senior separatist leaders — Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik — after disallowing them to hold a joint press conference.
Before being whisked away by the police to the nearby Humhama police station and placing them under preventive custody, the three leaders staged a protest and called for boycott of the forthcoming byelections.
Sources said the three separatists were scheduled to discuss the emerging political situation in the Valley and the response of the “joint resistance” to the bypolls. The three leaders were arrested from the Hyderpora locality of Srinagar where they were scheduled to address a press conference at the residence of Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Geelani.
As soon as Mirwaiz and Yasin Malik arrived at Hyderpora to hold a meeting with Geelani at his residence, a police party stopped the duo from entering the house, prompting Geelani to come out of his residence to receive the two leaders.
However, as the trio attempted to address a joint press conference, the police stopped them and even barred the journalists from reaching the spot by barricading the entrance to the Geelani’s residence with concertina wires.
After being denied permission to address the media, the three leaders held a protest in the Hyderpora area, raising slogans and calling for boycott of the byelections.
Meanwhile, in a joint statement this evening, the triocalled for boycott of thebyelections. They urged the people of south and central Kashmir to observe a complete shutdown on April 9 and 12, when the elections are scheduled.