Mirwaiz, Lone 'stopped' from paying homage to their fathers

SRINAGAR: J&K authorities on Thursday barred Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Sajad Lone from participating in the death anniversary programmes of their fathers, both of whom died on the same date in different years.

The two leaders termed the restrictions "undemocratic" and said such measures cannot change the reality. Mirwaiz Farooq was killed by unidentified gunmen on May 21, 1990. Abdul Gani Lone was also shot dead by unidentified assailants on the same date in 2002 while attending the death anniversary programme of Mirwaiz at Eidgah grounds in Srinagar.

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Lone, who heads J&K People's Conference and is a former minister, said he and his party colleagues were scheduled to visit the "Martyrs' Graveyard at Eidgah" to offer 'Fatiha' prayers for his father. "He was martyred 22 years back on May 21 by terrorists. But the police came early morning and informed me that I had been placed under house arrest...," he said in a post on X.

Mirwaiz said May 21 remains a painful reminder of one of the darkest days in the history of Kashmir. "It was unfortunate and condemnable that through intimidation...the authorities prevented people from expressing their sentiment and paying homage to their beloved leaders...," said Mirwaiz.