Srinagar, Oct 27: At least 45 activists of the rival factions of Hurriyat Conference were taken into custody today when they tried to take out processions in the city and enforce a strike in connection with 'black day' called by them against the entry of Indian troops in Jammu & Kashmir in 1947. Activists of the breakaway Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani gathered at Lal Chowk and were proceeding towards the local office of the United Nations military observers group for Indian and Pakistan, when police prevented them at Regal Chowk and detained 19 of them, official sources said.
Prominent among those detained were Ghulam Mohammad Hubby, Ghulam Nabi Sumji, Mohammad Yousuf Bhat, Mian Manzoor, Ghulam Qadir Hagroo, Firdous Ahmad Shah and Mohd Shafi Lone. Minutes after detention of activists of Geelani-led faction, activists of Hurriyat led by Maulvi Mohammad Abbas Ansari took to streets at Maisuma and were proceeding towards Budshah Chowk enroute to Unmogip when police took 16 of them into custody, the sources said. The activists, mostly belonging to J and K Awami Action Committee of Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, a constituent of Abbas-led faction of Hurriyat, were headed by Shahidul Islam, they said.
In view of the tension in the areas, shopkeepers pulled their shutters in Maisuma, Budshah Chowk, Lal Chowk, Madina Chowk, Gowkadal And Regal Chowk in the city, the sources said.

Bureau Report