Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Police on Sunday registered three cases against Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, chairman of Hurriyat's moderate faction, and other separatist leaders for allegedly inciting yesterday's violence during which government properties were torched by mobs.
An FIR was registered against the Mirwaiz at Shaheedgunj police station in Srinagar city under various sections of Ranbir Penal Code (RPC), including for criminal conspiracy (120-B), waging war against the state (121) and wantonly giving provocation to cause riots (153), the sources said.
Participants of a protest rally called by the Mirwaiz at Lal Chowk yesterday had torched three government offices, including the Crime Branch and Power Development Department headquarters.
Another case has been registered against the moderate Hurriyat chairman and four others at Safakadal police station in the old city.
Senior hardline Hurriyat leader Nissar Hussain Rather has also been booked for making a provocative speech at clock tower in Lal Chowk area yesterday. The case was registered in Police station Maisuma.
However, none of the separatist leaders named in the FIRs have been arrested so far.
"It is the discretion of investigating officer to arrest the accused," Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, S M Sahai said.
The Mirwaiz dubbed the registration of cases as an expression of "total frustration". However, the ruling National Conference said that the Hurriyat leader cannot wash his hands off and will have to explain for yesterday's violence. "It is only in Idgah he decided to have a march towards Lal Chowk and he was allowed to do it. But, if he doesn't condemn the violence which took place, the arson and the loot, I leave it to his wisdom," NC leader Mehboob Baig said. PTI
