Police deny Geelani under house arrest

Rubbishing reports that Syed Ali Shah Geelani had been placed under house arrest, the Jammu and Kashmir police on Tuesday said there were no restrictions on the movement of the hardline Hurriyat Conference chairman and he was free to go anywhere.

 “The allegations that Geelani was placed under house arrest on Monday evening to prevent him from attending a function at a hotel is baseless,” a police statement said on Tuesday. “Geelani is not under house arrest and is free to go anywhere.” Police said in the recent past he visited Ziyarat Sharief Batmaloo Sahib (Hazratbal shrine) and offered prayers there. He also offered ‘Namazi Jinazah’ (prayer after death) of Mehraj ud din at Hazratbal, besides attending the condolence gathering of Ajaz Ahmad at Soura recently. However, his movements are restricted on certain occasions as a precautionary measure. “It is restricted on certain days when there is a potential of creating breach of peace and public tranquility by him, which endangers public life and property. But it is done in accordance with provisions of law,” the statement said. Geelani was not prevented from attending an Iftar party on Monday evening, but he himself chose not to leave his Hyderpora residence, police claimed. A spokesperson of the Hurriyat accused that Geelani was placed under house arrest to prevent him from attending the party, which he had hosted at a local hotel.