Mr Umar had called a press conference at his Nigeen residence to address media about the evolving situation in Jammu and Kashmir after four civilians were killed by CRPF in south Kashmir’s Shopian town.

However, a posse of policemen were deployed at the gates of his residence and no one was allowed to enter the house, even as a riot control vehicle was kept on standby.

Mirwaiz later climbed on the boundary wall and addressed a small gathering of journalists using a public address system.

“The state is using these tactics to crush our voices. Let me tell them that we will not be coerced into submission. Our struggle against illegal occupation of Kashmir will continue,” he said.

“The state is using violence against ordinary people as a well thought-out strategy but they can’t suppress our sentiments. The perpetrators of Shopian must be brought to book and punished immediately,” he said.

As the gathering of TV media and print journalists swelled outside his house, the policemen asked them to pack their equipment and leave the spot.

“My message to the people of Kashmir is that they must to unfurl black flags on their houses and mosques of their localities on Friday to protest against Shopian killings,” Mirwaiz said before disappearing behind the boundary wall.