Curfew imposed in parts of Srinagar

SRINAGAR: Curfew was today clamped in seven police station areas of the city to maintain law and order as the main Shia Muharram procession is scheduled to be taken out through the summer capital.

The restriction has been imposed in the areas falling under the jurdistiction of Police stations Kothi Bagh, Maisuma, Kralkhud, M R Gunj, Safa Kadal, Nowhatta and Khanyar, official sources said.

Moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq was last night taken into preventive custody along with a dozen supporters after he threatened to defy curfew and attend Friday prayers.

"Mirwaiz along with 15 activists of Awami Action Committee (AAC) were arrested from the Mirwaiz manzil, the head office of AAC at Rajouri Kadal," Shahid-ul-Islam, a spokesman for Mirwaiz said.

Mirwaiz had yesterday said that he will not abide by any restrictions imposed on his movement and offer Friday prayers at Jama Masjid here.

Senior Superintendent of Police, Srinagar, Ashiq Bukhari had said, "Mirwaiz has been taken into preventive custody and shifted to his residence at Nigeen, where he will be put under house arrest".