Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik was today taken into preventive custody ahead of the separatists call for march to Jamia Masjid this evening.
Malik was taken into custody by a police party from his Maisuma residence this afternoon, a police official said.
Although the official did not cite any reason for Malik's detention, it is believed to be part of the government strategy to foil the separatists march to Jamia Masjid today.
The separatist leadership -- which includes Malik and chairmen of both factions of Hurriyat Conference -- have asked people to march to Jamia Masjid in old city after 6 PM today.
They have plans of holding a congregation at the historic mosque tomorrow after Friday prayers.
Jamia Masjid has been sealed since killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces on July 8.
No Friday prayers have been offered at the Mosque since then.
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Meanwhile, Syed Ali Geelani, chairman of hardline Hurriyat Conference, condemned Malik's detention and house arrest of moderate Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.
Geelani termed the action as mere "frustration of the puppet regime", a spokesman of the hardline Hurriyat said in a statement here.
