Geelani put under house arrest in Kashmir

Srinagar, Aug 4: Chairman of the breakaway Hurriyat Conference (HC) Syed Ali Shah Geelani was again put under house-arrest since last evening, official sources said today.

They said it was a precautionary measure.

A spokesman of the HC Aiyaz Akbar said a large number of police personnel have been deployed outside the Hyderpora residence of Mr Geelani.

He said a senior police officer informed the Hurriyat chairman that he has been put under house-arrest and he cannot leave till further orders.

There was no specific programme for Mr Geelani to go out of his house today since he had called a general strike in protest against anti-Muslim agitation launched by some communal elements in Jammu and also to express solidarity with the Muslims of Jammu, traders and transporters who are the worst victims of rioters.

Mr Akbar said Mr Geelani had asked people to observe the strike to express solidarity with them and also to protest against the government's failure to control the communal forces in Jammu.

Mr Geelani had alleged that a large number of Hindu extremists had been pushed into Jammu, to indulge in the acts of arson and loot of the properties of Muslims.

Mr Geelani accused the Jammu administration of complete failure in providing security to the lives and properties of Muslims in the region.

UNI