J&K: Geelani put under house arrest

Chairman of the breakaway Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Shah  Geelani was on Friday put under house arrest, official sources said.

A large number of police personnel have been deployed to prevent Geelani from moving out of his Hyderpora residence, they added.

A spokesman of the Hurriyat Conference said that a senior police officer informed Geelani that he has been put under house arrest since early Friday morning.

''You can not leave your house till further orders,'' the officer said.

A spokesman said Geelani was to lead a procession in the city in protest against the  alleged increase in the Human Rights violations, particularly the killing of a  student by security forces at Dalgate on August 9.

He said Geelani was on Thursday arrested at Mirgund while on his way to Bandipora to lead the Nimaz Jehazah of Ghulam Mohammad Sheikh, a student killed by security forces at Dalgate.

However, CRPF said Sheikh was a militant who was trying to lob a grenade when he was shot dead.

Geelani was released from Mirgund police station on Thursday evening.