SRINAGAR: Indian authorities prevented top pro-freedom Kashmiri leadership from offering Eid congregation prayers by placing them under house arrest. Police had placed the chairmen of both Hurriyat factions Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, JKLF Chief Muhammad Yasin Malik, National Front Chairman Nayeem Khan, DFP President Shabir Ahmed Shah, JKLF (H) Chairman Javed Mir and others under house arrest.
However, the second rung separatist leaders addressed Eid congregations at various places across the Valley. A contingent of police was redeployed at Geelani's Hyderpora residence last evening to restrict his movement, the Hurriyat (G) spokesman Ayaz Akbar said.
"Geelani Sahib had announced that he would offer  Eid prayers at Dargah Hazratbal on city outskirts," he said. JKLF Chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik was detained by police at his Maisuma residence this morning, a JKLF spokesman said.