Geelani, Yaseen still under house arrest, Omar released

Srinagar, Sep 12 (UNI) Chairman of the breakaway Hurriyat Conference (HC) Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief Mohammad Yaseen Malik remained under house arrest for the past 12 days even as Chairman of Moderate HC Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq was released early this morning.

Official sources said as a precautionary measure, Mr Geelani and Mr Malik were kept under house arrest.

A Hurriyat spokesman said a large number of policemen and CRPF personnel remained deployed outside the Hyderpora residence of Mr Geelani since September I when he was informed that he could not leave his house till further orders.

He said Mr Geelani was not even being allowed to offer prayers in the mosque.

Police and CRPF personnel also remained deployed outside the house of Mr Malik, near the headquarters of JKLF at Maisuma near Srinagar.

Mr Malik too was not being allowed to leave his house since September I when he was put under house arrest immediately after his week-long detention.

A spokesman of the HC said police and CRPF personnel deployed outside the Nigeen house of Mirwaiz Omar have been withdrawn this morning.

Mr Geelani, Mr Mirwaiz and Mr Malik were arrested on August 24 after authorities clamped curfew in the city and other major towns to prevent people from attending the Lal Chowk march on August 25, called by the Coordination Committee (CC), spearheading the present agitation in Kashmir.

The CC, an alliance of both the factions of the HC, JKLF, lawyers, traders, fruit growers and other organisations, have now given a 'Lal Chowk chalo' call on October 6.

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