Another wanted leader of Geelani’s Hurriyat faction held

SRINAGAR - Police Sunday arrested Muhammad Shafi Rishi, the acting chairman of separatist Democratic Political Movement (DPM), an important constituent of the Syed Ali Geelani-led Hurriyat group.

“Rishi was arrested from Bab Demb area of old city today (Sunday) along with four of his associates whose identity we are presently establishing,” a senior police officer said here.

Rishi’s arrest comes barely a day after the arrest of Syeda Asiya Andrabi, the chief of women’s separatist group Dukhtaran-e-Milat (Daughters of the Faith) who was arrested from Zakura area of summer capital Srinagar Saturday.

Rishi, along with Andrabi and Masrat Alam, another leader of Geelani’s Hurriyat faction has been on the wanted list of the police since the last two months.

The authorities here believe these three separatist leaders have been playing an important role in carrying forward the “Quit Kashmir” campaign announced by their group.

Alam is, however, still yet to be traced.