Why Masarat Alam is worse than Geelani

A house arrest for Masarat Alam is just an interim measure say Intelligence Bureau (IB) officials in Jammu and Kashmir.

There is a need to try and convict him for his crimes or else he will keep coming out of jail and causing unrest in Jammu and Kashmir, the officer says.

[He 'waved' Pakistani flag in Kashmir and was arrested: Controversy over Masarat Alam explained]

Alam, who was released from jail after his detention order could not be extended, was back to making provocative statements and also waiving a Pakistan flag a charge that he has denied.

The fact of the matter, however, remains that this man needs to be checked as he today has overshadowed Syed Ali Shah Geelani in terms of popularity, several officials in the Valley told OneIndia.

Alam is the next Geelani:

Alam fills in the vacuum that has been created with the fading charm of Geelani.

Alam by no means is an ordinary separatist and the last time he was detained, the Deputy Commissioner had written in his order, "this man has anti India written in his blood."

Geelani is just an old figure in the scheme of things today. He is just there for nostalgic value. After all he is 85 years old and not the firebrand separatist that he used to be.

There was a clamour to have Alam released since the separatists realized that the movement is fading.

Alam has proven to be a firebrand anti-India element and this has gone well for Pakistan which has spared no effort in fuelling anti India passions in Kashmir.

[J&K: Separatists protest against Masarat Alam's arrest; clash with police in Srinagar]

Alam was meant to bring Hurriyat to the talks table:

When Alam was released from jail the government in Jammu and Kashmir expected that Alam would bring the Hurriyat Conference to the talking table.

The Hurriyat is a divided house and several members have even shown signs of towing the Indian line.

However, there are a good number in the Hurriyat who continue to oppose India, but the problem for them was their unity.

Geelani who used to be a towering figure does not fit into the scheme of things any longer and has no control over the group.

The person that everyone expected would bring about a sense of unity was Alam.

However, this proved to be a misreading of the situation. Alam continue to show to the entire nation that he still has anti India in his blood.

What Alam is capable of:

Alam has grown in the ranks of the separatists over the years. He is young and has the fire in him. He can arrange for at least 5,000 youth with the stroke of his hand.

He is known to be provocative by nature and only believes in violence to voice his opinion. He has often heard telling his followers that the only way out is to beat the Indian establishment.

His role was prominent during the 2008 and 2010 Kashmir uprising in which his followers resorted to stone pelting in which several lives were lost.

He has been very vocal about his opposition to the Armed Forces Special Protection Act and has often pressurized politicians to ensure its withdrawal.

Alam has very often known to have provoked his supporters against the Indian army as he considers them to the biggest enemy coming in the way of Kashmir and Pakistan.

Intelligence Bureau officials say that Alam has even masterminded attacks against the Indian camps.

His followers have shown no inhibition in providing support to terror groups from Pakistan who claim to be waging a freedom struggle in Kashmir.