Geelani Dozens Taken Into Custody, Shabir Under House Arrest

July 3, 2015November 12, 2018 B M 0 Comments

03 July, Srinagar

Hardline Hurriyat Conference (HC) Chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani was today arrested along with dozens of his supporters when he stepped out from his house, where he was put under house arrest.

The authorities have imposed restrictions on Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) chief Shabir Ahmad Shah since last evening, while other separatist leaders are free. Official sources said restrictions on Geelani and Shah was to prevent any law and order problem.

Geelani has announced to address a rally after Friday prayers at Anantnag after Director General of Police (DGP) had said, “There was no restriction on Geelani and he was a free man to offer prayers at any place.” A spokesperson for the HC Aiyaz Akbar said as soon as Geelani stepped out from his Hyderpora residence, he was immediately put in a police vehicle and taken to Humhama police station in the central Kashmir district of Badgam.

He said dozens of other Hurriyat activists and supporters, who had assembled at a distance, were also arrested and taken to police station. He said additional security forces had been deployed outside the residence of Geelani since early this morning to prevent him from moving out, though state police chief had claimed that there are no restrictions on him (Geelani).

Since the return of amalgam chairman from New Delhi on April 15, Geelani was released only on May 1st, when he visited Tral where two youths were killed allegedly by the Army and June 5 to allow him to visit Regional Passport Office (RPO), Akbar said.

He alleged that Geelani was not even allowed to offer Friday prayers in mosque during this holy month of Ramzan though still police chief claimed that he was a “free man”. Criticising the DGP for alleged misleading statement, the hurriyat spokesperson said Friday, Geelani had invited media to accompany him to Anantnag. He said Hurriyat has assured that the rally at Anantnag will be peaceful and there will be no law and order problem.

There was no restriction on any other separatist leader.