Separatists put under house arrest ahead of meet with Pakistan NSA

Pakistan High Commission in Delhi had invited Geelani for a meeting on August 24 with Sartaj Aziz

Ahead of their proposed meeting with Pakistan's National Security Advisor Sartaj Aziz in Delhi, senior Kashmiri separatist leaders including Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Abbas Ansari were today put under house arrest here.

While hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani was already under house arrest, similar restrictions were placed for moderate faction chief Mirwaiz Umer Farooq at his Nigeen residence and for Abbas Ansari, who lives in Nawakadal, police and Hurriyat sources said.

Spokesperson of hardline Hurriyat Ayaz Akbar was put under house arrest in HMT area and security has been stepped up outside the Hyderpora residence of Geelani, a police official said, adding raids are on to detain second rung leaders of the separatist amalgam.

Pakistan High Commission in Delhi had invited Geelani for a meeting on August 24 with Aziz, who will be in the national capital for talks with Indian NSA Ajit Doval.

Moderate separatist leaders have also been invited for a reception being hosted by the High Commission in New Delhi for the visiting Pakistani official on August 23.

India had cancelled Foreign Secretary-level talks with Pakistan in August last year after its envoy invited separatist leaders for consultations ahead of the meeting in Islamabad.