Police detain Geelani before Anantnag rally : No ‘free man’

Police Friday barred the Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Geelani from addressing a rally in Islamabad (Anantnag), triggering massive clashes in Srinagar and the south Kashmir township.

“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. He was detained at Humhama police station.

Geelani had announced to offer Friday prayers in Anantnag and was scheduled to address a public gathering there after the prayers.

Geelani’s detention negated the recent assertion of J&K’s

Director General of Police that he (Geelani) is a free man and can go anywhere.

MASSIVE CLASHES IN ANANTNAG

Massive protests rocked this South Kashmir town on Friday against the arrest of Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani. Geelani was scheduled to lead a rally here, but was arrested by police in Srinagar.

Locals said police and paramilitary forces, wearing riot-gear, had been deployed in the town from early morning in view of Geelani’s proposed rally. People in large numbers, they said, were waiting to listen to the separatist leader.

As soon as the news of Geelani’s detention reached here, people gathered in LalChowk and staged protest demonstrations. They shouted pro-freedom and pro-Geelani slogans.

In the meantime, locals said, police and paramilitary forces swung into action and lobbed teargas shells at the protesters. The angry protesters, in turn, hurled stones and bricks at the forces, they said.

The clashes, according to witnesses, intensified and spread to other adjoining areas including Reeshi Bazar, CheeniChowk, Malakhnag, JanglatMandi, Sherpora, AchabalAdda, Dangerpora, MattanChowk, Kadipora and Iqbal Market.

A police official said more forces were rushed in to disperse the protesters, who, however, offered stiff resistance and fought pitched battles throughout the day.

Locals said the forces lobbed ‘countless’ tear-gas shells some of which landed inside residential houses in old town.

Earlier, Tehreek-i-Hurriyat leaders managed to reach the town and address people in various mosques before Friday prayers. “As they came out to lead the protests, police detained them,” reports said.

Several TeH activists and Hurriyat (G) leaders were already detained to prevent protests.

Reports said police also detained several youth in the town while controlling protesters.

Geelani had said he would lead a protest in Islamabad (Anantnag) town to test the claims of Director General of Police (DGP) that “I am a free man.”

A report in the evening said many people were injured in clashes in Anantnag.

PROTESTS IN SRINAGAR

Protests erupted in Nowhatta and Khanyar areas of old Srinagar soon after congregational Friday prayers concluded. Groups of youth took to streets and held protest demonstrations.  The protestors were chanting pro-freedom and anti-government slogans.

Witnesses said police tried to disperse them, but protestors pelted stones on forces, triggering clashes.