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Mirwaiz placed

under house

arrest

NEW DELHI: Acting Chairman of All Parties Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was placed under house arrest this morning in Srinagar as the paramilitary troops launched a massive campaign against the freedom fighters in Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

According to a report reaching here, the official sources said that the step has been taken to prevent Mirwaiz from proceeding to Delhi and trying to meet US President Bill Clinton.

Police and paramilitary forces, who laid a siege around Mirwaiz's Nageen residence, hours before his departure to Delhi, have been directed not to allow him to step out of his house till Clinton's stay in New Delhi, the sources said.

Hurriyat headquarters at Rajbagh was also cardoned last evening but no one was arrested.

Policemen continue to remain deployed outside the Hurriyat headquarters on Monday, the sources said.

Mirwaiz termed the move as an act of 'utter frustration'. He said that he was optimistic about meeting the US President." We have been given an understanding that the Hurriyat leaders will be among the invitees to the reception US embassy will be holding in honour of the visiting US president," he said.

Mirwaiz's house arrest follows the arrest of President of Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (JKDFP) Shabir Ahmed Shah and his 37 followers during the past two days.

Shah, along with his 10 associates, continues to be lodged at the Kothibagh police station while the rest 26 of his party workers were let off last evening, the sources said.ÑAPP