Geelani placed under house arrest ahead of Eid

Monday, August 20, 2012 - Islamabad—Puppet authorities have placed the veteran Kashmiri Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Geelani, under house arrest in Srinagar ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr.

The action has been taken to thwart the programme of Syed Ali Geelani to visit Dargah Hazratbal and offer Eid prayers. The authorities have deployed a heavy contingent of Indian police at his Hyderpora residence restricting his movement, reported Kashmir Media Service. Syed Ali Geelani was taken into custody on Friday when he left his home to offer Juma prayers and was lodged at Humhama police station. Later, he was placed under house arrest.

The veteran leader is scheduled to visit the Dargah Hazratbal for prayers on Eid. This is his second such programme after he was barred from visiting the shrine on Eid in 2010.

Syed Ali Geelani has been often under house arrest with the police strictly disallowing his political and religious activities. Of late, he was not allowed to participate in Friday congregations on most occasions even during the holy month of Ramazn.

Recently, the police even kept him away from the Iftar party he had hosted at a hotel in Srinagar. —APP