Indian police arrest Hurriyet leader Syed Ali Gilani in Srinagar

SRINAGAR - Indian police arrested the Chairman of All-Parties Hurriyet Conference, Syed Ali Gilani, in Srinagar on Friday.

The police took Gilani into custody after he allegedly defied his house arrest, stepped out of his mansion and attempted to march towards the Jamia Masjid in Srinagar, Kashmir Media Service (KMS) reported.

Earlier, a protest  march was announced by Hurriyet leaders Syed Ali Gilani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik against the ongoing brutalities unleashed by Indian forces on the Kashmiri freedom movement.

The movement was triggered by the extra-judicial murder of Burhan Wani, the top commander of Hizbul Mujahideen, a Kashmiri insurgent organization. He was killed by Indian troops on July 8.

56 people have been killed so far in the unceasing volleys of bullets, pellets, and tear gas shells fired by Indian forces on the largely peaceful protesters.

Syed Ali Gilani told media persons before his arrest that he had asked the people to remain steadfast in carrying out the campaign for freedom.

“I appeal and stress upon people to remain persistent and steadfast so that the current movement can be taken forward successfully,” he said, adding “we will not budge even an inch this time as we have already sacrificed nearly sixty dear ones so it is high time for India to accept Kashmir as a dispute and start the process of its resolution.”

Occupation authorities have kept a strict curfew and other limitations in place in the Kashmir Valley for the 21st day, today, to stop people from protesting.