Srinagar, Apr 25: J&K Police have registered a case of attempt to murder and stone pelting against 83-year old Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (G) Syed Ali Geelani in Baramulla Police Station. The separatist leader had gone to the north Kashmir district on April 6 and after offering Friday prayers he had addressed a gathering there.
The FIR (No. 78/2012, dated April 6, 2012), a copy of which is with Greater Kashmir, mentions that the senior separatist leader has been booked under sections 307/336/392/427/148/149/124-A153/332 of RPC.
Station House Officer, Baramulla, Javaid Makhdoomi, said during his speech after Friday prayers Geelani “provoked general public against the State.”  “The section 307 is for an attempt to murder of a policeman, and the section 336 is for involvement in stone pelting,” the SHO said.
The FIR mentions that on April 6 police had deputed a team along with a photographer to Main Chowk Baramulla, where Geelani addressed the rally, to assess the situation.
“Soon after the Friday prayers Geelani and his close confidantes addressed a gathering of around 500 people,” the police recorded in the FIR. “They (Geelani and others) provoked people against the State and their speech was anti-State.”
In his speech the separatist leader, the FIR mentions, said, “Indian occupation of Jammu and Kashmir is illegal and we will continue with our struggle for freedom.”  “His speech resulted in hatred among masses against the State,” the FIR says.
The Baramulla rally was Geelani’s first address after his return from New Delhi this year.
Spokesman Hurriyat (G), Ayaz Akbar asserted the rally was peaceful and during the entire speech of Geelani no untoward incident took place. “It is only after Geelani Sahib and his associates left that locals caught a policeman video-graphing the scene,” Akbar said. “It resulted into an argument between police and locals.”
The Hurriyat spokesman said it is shocking that police has leveled allegation of attempt to murder against Geelani. “It is beyond understanding. Will police explain this attempt to murder by Geelani Sahib,” he said.
He said the police action is an attempt by the State Government to ‘frighten Geelani Sahib, curb his political activities and justify his house detention.’
“We condemn these tactics by State Government and police,” he said.
During recent years, Geelani has been mostly kept under house arrest by the State Government. He was detained under Public Safety Act during 2010 summer unrest and released later.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 25 Apr 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 25 Apr 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 26 Apr 2012 00:00:00 IST