Separatist 'Lal Chowk challo' march foiled, Mirwaiz detained

Srinagar, May 19: Security forces foiled “ Lal Chowk Challo” called by separatists on Saturday when Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to lay foundation and inaugurate developmental projects in Jammu and Kashmir.

All roads leading to historic Lal Chowk, the nerve centre of the summer capital, have been closed with barbed wire by security forces and state police since this morning.

Hundreds of security forces have been deployed in the area to prevent people from assembling there. However, the nearby Moulana Azad road and Budshah chowk were open though large number of security forces and state police personnel remained deployed on both sides of the road to prevent any untoward incident.

Mirwaiz was taken into preventive custody when he defied house arrest restrictions and stepped out of his Nigeen house to lead a march to Lal Chowk. Police personnel present near his house immediately took Mirwaiz into custody and later lodged him in police station Nigeen.

Police also arrested another senior hurriyat leader Hilal Ahmad War when he tried to march towards Lal Chowk in the Civil Lines.

Yaseen Malik is already under detention while Syed Ali Shah Geelani remained under house arrest.