J-K police thwart attempt to hold separatist seminar in Srinagar

SRINAGAR - The Jammu and Kashmir police foiled an attempt to hold a seminar by separatist leaders here on Wednesday.

The seminar was expected to be participated by a few individuals who are most wanted due to their involvement in terrorist activities by the Central Government.

The seminar, to be held on the role of Kashmiri separatist leaders, was reported to be addressed by leaders of both factions of separatist organisations of the Indian administered Kashmir and the Pakistan occupied Kashmir.

The separatist leaders from PoK or Pakistan were expected to address at the seminar via telephone.

However, just when the seminar was to be organised today, the Jammu and Kashmir police sleuths descended at the venue in the Taj Hotel here and sealed it ahead of the scheduled programme and also detained the organiser of the programme.

The police detained Mohammad Ahsan Untoo, who had organised the seminar along with a host of other separatist leaders.

“Apart from Kashmir separatist leaders Mirwaiz Moulvi Umar Farooq and Syed Ali Shah Geelani, the seminar was also to be addressed via phone by Hizbul Mujaheedin Supreme Commander Salahuddin and United Jihad Council General Secretary Akil-ur-Rahman,” claimed media reports.

As per media reports, Untoo had received a pre-recorded message from Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba militant outfit’s founder Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, wanted by India in connection with the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

“We had an idea that Salahuddin was to address the seminar. I don’t know exactly that whether Azharuddin (Jaish-e-Muhammad chief Masood Azhar) was to address or not,” said Zahid Ali, spokesperson of a separatist organisation.

“But, I believe that some of his supporters associated with the freedom movement were to address the seminar,” he added. Separatist leaders, however, criticised the police and termed their intervention as undemocratic.

“We has just organised this seminar to discuss the role of leaders vis-’-vis the peaceful freedom struggle that we have here. We just wanted to discuss the leaders’ role about the future strategy of our movement and about the measures to take the movement to its final conclusion,” said Hurriyat Geelani Group leader Nisar Hussian.

“Ahsan Untoo had organised this seminar and it was to be attended by all Hurriyat leaders. We condemn the public action, its undemocratic,” he added.

Maulana Masood Azhar is Jaish-e-Mohammad chief, had to be released from a jail in India during “terrorists for hostage” swap in December 31, 1999, following the hijacking of the Indian Airlines Flight IC 814.

Syed Salahuddin is the chief of Hizbul Mujahideen, a group of Kashmiri militants based in Pakistan and PoK, and active in Kashmir since 1989. (ANI)