Srinagar: In a pre-dawn swoop, police detained Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman Mohammad Yaseen Malik along with three of his associates and put under house arrest two senior separatist leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani, chairman of breakaway Hurriyat Conference and Democratic Freedom Party chief Shabir Ahmad Shah, official sources said today (Apr 23, 2004).

Malik and his three associates, who were on their way to Budgam on a poll boycott campaign, were detained at Narbal, sources said.

Earlier, a posse of policemen surrounded the residence of senior separatist leader Shabir Shah at Rawalpora on Old Airport Road around 2.00 hrs (IST) asking him not to venture out.

Four hours later, another contingent of police cordoned the house of Geelani at Hyderpora on Srinagar-Airport road.

Talking from his house Shah said, "A contingent of police came to my house around 2 am and told me not to come out of the house.

"However, policemen told me that they have not come to arrest me but have been instructed not to allow me out of my house," Shah added.

Shah, who was detained at Chrar-E-Sharief in Budgam district of Central Kashmir yesterday while campaigning for poll boycott, said he was let off around 22.00 hrs (IST).

A spokesman of Geelani-led Hurriyat faction said police came to Geelani's house around 6.00 hrs (IST) and told him not to come out and cordoned his house from outside.