Police detain Geelani, prevent him from addressing rally in south Kashmir, Clashes in south against arrest; many injured
Police Friday foiled Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s plan to address a public gathering in Anantnag district of south Kashmir by detaining him near his residence here.
“As Geelani tried to leave for south Kashmir, he was detained by a large posse of police who were stationed outside his residence at Hyderpora,” a Hurriyat spokesperson said.
Hurriyat Conference chairman Geelani had announced to offer Friday prayers in Anantnag and was scheduled to address a public gathering there after the prayers.
The spokesperson said that dozens of Hurriyat leaders were also detained along with Geelani.
The separatist leader continues to be under arrest since his arrival from New Delhi on April 15 this year barring on two occasions – first when he was allowed to go to Tral to address a rally on May 1 and then on June 5 when he visited Passport Office here for filing his passport application.
Earlier, on June 14, authorities did not allow Geelani to conduct a seminar in which people from different walks of life were scheduled to express their views on the topic ‘How to Resist the Indian State Fascism’.
Those invited for the seminar included Akali Dal leader Simranjit Singh Mann, Dal Khalsa leader Kanwarpal Singh, noted human rights activist Gautam Navlakha and representatives of the Christian community.
Several people have been injured in clashes that broke out in Lal Chowk area of Islamabad town Friday afternoon against the arrest of Hurriyat (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani who was to lead a proposed rally here today.
Witnesses said activists of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat and Hurriyat (G) staged demonstrations after the prayers as the news of arrest of Geelani reached here.
The angry youths pelted stones on police and paramilitary personnel deployed in the area.
The pitched battles, which left several people injured, were on at the time of filing of this report in Lal Chowk and Old town areas.
The octogenarian leader was taken into custody and detained at Police Station Humhama.
Earlier, the leader had said that he would lead a protest in the town after the Jammu Kashmir Police said that he was a “free man”.
