J&K govt acts, separatist leaders Geelani, Masarat Alam under house arrest

Srinagar: Hardline Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani and separatist leader Massarat Aalam 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 Aalam.

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.

Supporters wave Pakistani flags during the rally of chairman of hardline faction of Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Shah. (Photo: PTI)

Earlier on Thursday, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister, Mufti Muhammad Sayeed said that chanting of pro-Pakistan slogans and waving the neighbouring country’s flag at a rally of separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani was “unacceptable”, assuring action as warranted by law will be taken against those involved in the acts.

Union home minister, Rajnath Singh, had asked the chief minister to take strictest possible steps against those involved in what he termed as anti-national actions.

The J&K police had registered an FIR against Mr. Geelani, Massarat Aalam, Bashir Ahmed Bhat alias Peer Hafizullah and others for “provocative activities including hoisting of Pakistani flag” at the rally held beside his Geelani’s residence.