Geelani and Omar under house arrest in Kashmir

Srinagar, Sep 13 (UNI) Chairmen of both the factions of the Hurriyat Conference (HC) are under house arrest in the Kashmir valley, official sources said today.

They said this was done as a precautionary measure.

A spokesman of the moderate HC Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq said a large number of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and police personnel have been deployed outside the Nigeen house of the Mirwaiz since early today.

He said the Mirwaiz was informed that he has been put under house arrest again and he cannot leave till further orders.

Yesterday, the Mirwaiz was released after a house arrest of 11 days. He addressed a Friday congregation at the historic Jamia Masjid before leading a ''pro-freedom'' procession in the down town.

A spokesman of the breakaway HC said Mr Geelani has been under house arrest since September first.

He alleged that the Hurriyat chairman was not being allowed to offer prayers in the mosque.

However, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief Mohammad Yaseen Malik, who was injured in CRPF lathicharge at Lal Chowk yesterday, has been free since yesterday. He has been also under housearrest since September first.

UNI BAS QAB RSA KN1708