Srinagar, April 22
Hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani was today prevented by the police from venturing out of his house even as 70 separatist activists were detained when they tried to take out a ‘Milad’ procession in defiance of prohibitory orders here.

Geelani was not allowed to leave his Hyderpora residence, a spokesman of the amalgam said here. The firebrand separatist leader was planning to lead a procession to mark the birthday of Prophet Mohammad in Lal Chowk area.

Earlier, the police detained nearly 70 separatist activists from Abi Guzar and Fatehkadal areas of the city for defying prohibitory orders, official sources said.

At least 55 activists of Islamic Students League (ISL) and Democratic Political Movement (DPM) tried to take out a procession from Abi Guzar area of Lal Chowk, the sources said.

The police swung into action and took 55 activists, including DPM leader Firdous Shah and ISL head Mohammad Shafi Reshi, into preventive custody, they said.

The detained persons have been lodged at Kothibagh police station, they said.

Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Forum leader Javid Ahmad Mir & separatist leader Shakeel Bakshi also took out a procession from Maisuma locality to Fatehkadal where they were detained along with a dozen other supporters, the sources said.

Meanwhile, about two lakh devotees converged at Hazratbal shrine on the occasion of Milad-un-Nabi, birthday of Prophet Mohammad, that was observed with religious fervour throughout the Valley today. A large number of devotees attended night-long special prayers at the Hazratbal shrine and other major shrines and mosques across the Valley.

The Governor and the Chief Minister greeted people on the occasion. In his message, the Governor, Lieut-Gen S.K. Sinha (retd) described Islam as the religion of peace and said Prophet Mohammad throughout his life worked for equality and brotherhood.

Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed hoped the day would prove a harbinger of peace and prosperity for Jammu and Kashmir and its people. He emphasised on the need to follow the path of righteousness, compassion and treating fellow beings with courtesy and respect shown by the Prophet.

Srinagar, April 22
Nine militants were killed in two separate encounters with security forces in north Kashmir since yesterday, while one person was shot dead in Budgam and a body with its throat slit was recovered in Baramula district today.

Five unidentified militants were killed in a night-long encounter with security forces at Baki Haker in Handwara area of Kupwara district today. Two residential houses and two cowsheds were also gutted in the exchange of fire between militants and security forces, the police here said.

Four unidentified militants were killed in an encounter with security forces at Churanda, Uri, near LoC last night, the police here said. Two AK rifles, two magazines, 953 rounds, one pistol with a magazine, 44 pistol rounds, one UBGL, three UBGL grenades, nine hand grenades, 26 RDX sticks, 11 electronic detonators, one wireless set and Rs 965 were recovered from the site of encounter.

Unidentified militants shot dead a youth, Abdul Ghani Gorsi, after kidnapping him from his house at Keller in Pulwama district last night. The police recovered a throat-slit body of Parvez Ahmad Ganai of Chitti Banday at Brar village in Bandipore area of Baramula district this morning. A mechanic by profession, Parvez Ahmad, had been kidnapped by unidentified militants from his house yesterday night.

Jammu, April 22
Leaders of various Sikh organisations in Jammu and Kashmir have demanded that genuine representatives of the community be included in any future talks on Kashmir.

Chief organiser Bhai Kanahaya Nishkam Sewa Society, Mr Mohinder Singh, said in a statement here today that “we request Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh to include our community leaders in any future talks on Kashmir.”

He said Sikhs in Kashmir had played a vital role in defending the sovereignty of the state and as such “our leaders need to be included in the talks on Kashmir.”

Mr Mohinder Singh welcomed the talks between Mr Manohar Singh and Gen Parvez Musharraf and said that the two leaders had laid the foundation for peace in the subcontinent.

He said the tone and tenor of the joint declaration indicated that the two countries were abandoning the path of confrontation.

He said the Prime Minister had played a “great role” in normalising relations between Delhi and Islamabad.