Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq taken into preventive custody

They have been spearheading the ongoing protests against recent civilian killings in Kashmir valley

Police on Thursday took into preventive custody Hurriyat Conference leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq as they tried to defy house arrest and march to Eidgah to pay homage to Sheikh Abdul Aziz on his eighth death anniversary.

Police detained Geelani, chairman of the hardline Hurriyat Conference, as he tried to defy the restrictions, and took him to Humhama police station, a spokesman for the Hurriyat faction said.

"The Mirwaiz was arrested by police outside his Nigeen residence and lodged in Nigeen police station," a spokesman for the chairman of the moderate faction of Hurriyat said.

The separatists, as per their joint protest programme announced on August 4, had asked people to march to the Eidgah to pay homage to Aziz.

Meanwhile, the separatist camp in Kashmir has asked people not to send their children for participating in Independence Day events and gave a call for a two-day "referendum march" at Lal Chowk on August 13 and 14 to let the people of the state exercises their right to self-determination to decide on its future status.

"Parents are directed not to send their wards for participation in these (Independence Day) celebrations," the separatists said in the joint protest programme issued today for six days from August 13 to 18.

"From 7:00 am onwards (on August 15), block all the roads towards and around the place of celebration of Indian Independence Day; District Development Commissioners are asked not to hoist the Indian Flag in any part of the Jammu and Kashmir," they added.

Geelani, the Mirwaiz and JKLF chairman Mhammad Yasin Malik have been spearheading the ongoing protests against recent civilian killings in the valley.

"Raise black flags on your houses, shops, market centres and local chowks and wear black dresses or black bands on this day," the separatists said.