Hurriyat Conference Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq detained

The police today detained moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq as he tried to lead his supporters towards the martyrs' graveyard in the Naqshband Sahib area of the city, officials said.

The Mirwaiz was detained by police outside his residence in Nigeen area of the city and taken to the local police station, a police official said.

He was taken into preventive custody as his presence in old city area could lead to violence by his supporters, the official added.

A spokesman of the Mirwaiz said the Hurriyat chairman was planning to pay homage to martyrs of 1931 massacre of 21 persons protesting against the rule of the then Maharaja.

-PTI