Geelani, Masarat put under house arrest

Hardline Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani and separatist leader Masarat Alam were on Thursday put under house arrest on the eve of their rally in Tral town of Pulwama district.

"Geelani has been placed under house arrest. A posse of policemen has been deployed outside the chairman's house at Hyderpora as a preventive measure to maintain law and order," a police officer said, adding that similar restriction has been slapped on Alam.

Geelani had called for a march on Friday to Tral town in South Kashmir where two youths were killed in an anti-militancy operation on Monday.

Police had on Wednesday filed a case under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act against Geelani and separatist leader Masarat Alam Bhat for allegedly raising anti-national slogans during a rally in Srinagar.

Earlier in the day, Masarat denied waving Pakistani flag at the rally, but said it was a representation of the feelings, aspirations and sentiments of the people across Kashmir.

A day after being slapped with Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for anti-national activities, the hardline Hurriyat leader came out with clarification saying he did not wave the Pakistani flag and should not be held responsible for that.

"There was a welcome programme for Geelani. Some youth had (Pakistani) flags there. Why should I be held responsible for it?" Bhat, who was released last month after being detained under Public Safety Act for more than four years, said.

"This is a general trend in the state and not one man's doing. To hold one person responsible for it, I do not think is the right thing," he said.