Srinagar, Aug 17: Police on Friday arrested Chairman Hurriyat Conference (G) Syed Ali Geelani outside his home, preventing him from offering Jumat-ul-Vida prayers.
The 82-year old separatist leader was arrested outside his Hyderpora residence here this morning when he tried to leave for Baramulla. He was detained at Humhama Police Station, Hurriyat (G) spokesperson Ayaz Akbar said.
“Geelani Sahab was scheduled to offer Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid Bait-ul-Mukaram Baramulla,” said Akbar. “He had to address a public rally there.” Hurriyat had appealed authorities to lift siege around Geelani’s residence and set him free to offer Jumat-ul-Vida prayers, Akbar said.
Late in the evening, Geelani was released and again put under house arrest, said an official at Humhama police post.
He said there were “strict orders” for not allowing the aging leader to move out of his house. Geelani termed his continued detention and arrest as “unjustified” and interference by the state Government in his religious matters.
Wishing people on the eve on Eid-ul-Fitr, Geelani asked them “not to forget the sacrifices rendered for the ongoing freedom movement.” He has announced to offer Eid prayers at Hazratbal.
The aging separatist leader is facing frequent house arrest. Since April this year, the Hurriyat said, Geelani was not allowed to offer Friday prayers and was even stopped from attending his grandson’s marriage in June.
In 2011, a member of Amnesty International, Bikramjeet Batra, during a visit to Geelani’s house had taken strong exception to his “illegal detention.”
Later police had allowed Geelani to move for a few days.
Akbar said since 2010 unrest in which more than 120 Kashmiri youth were killed in police and CRPF firing, Geelani has been mostly kept under house arrest.
Civil society groups including academics, industrialists and lawyers recently condemned the continued house arrest of Geelani, terming it violation of basic rights.
“Without any administrative order his (Geelani’s) detention is unconstitutional,” said Kashmir’s noted lawyer Zafar Shah at an Iftaar party which was organized by Hurriyat (G). Geelani was not allowed to attend the party.
Former Union Law Minister and senior Supreme Court lawyer Ram Jethmalani said he would fight Geelani’s continuous house arrest in Supreme Court.
Hurriyat spokesman said senior party leader Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai was also arrested on way to Baramulla to offer prayers. Sehrai was later released, he said.

SHABIR SHAH UNDER HOUSE ARREST:
Police on Friday placed under house arrest the Hurriyat Conference (M) senior leader and Democratic Freedom Party chief Shabir Ahmad Shah, who was scheduled to offer Jumat-ul-Vida prayers at Hazratbal shrine here.
DFP chief spokesman strongly condemned the house arrest, terming it frustration of Government. He said the continued house arrest of Shah reflected that the Government was scared of peaceful political activities of pro-freedom leaders.
The spokesman said preventing Shah from offering Friday prayers was interference in the religious affairs of people by the Government.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 17 Aug 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 17 Aug 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 18 Aug 2012 00:00:00 IST