SRINAGAR: Chairman of a faction of the Hurriyat Conference, Syed Ali Geelani was detained at the Srinagar airport soon after he landed here and was later placed under house arrest.
Geelani, who had left for Delhi on December 11 last year landed at Srinagar Airport on Thursday afternoon, was whisked away by police to his Hyderpora residence where he was placed under house detention.
A large gathering of supporters and activists had gathered at Geelanis residence to welcome him. They were raising anti-government and pro-Azadi slogans.
However, police resorted to tear shelling and cane charge to disperse the crowd.
The resultant chaos led to the closure of Airport road for a while.
Lashing out at the authorities for not allowing his supporters and well wishers to welcome him at the Airport, Geelani said the state was being ruled by police and army.
Is this what they call democracy? Government of India and the state government have crossed the limits of shamelessness through their inhuman and barbaric restrictions. J&K has become a police state and it is a blot on the face of their so called democracy, Geelani said while talking to reporters.
Condemning the authorities for putting strict restrictions on his movement and not allowing people to meet him at his residence, the octogenarian separatist leader said the state was trying to muzzle the voices of people and leaders through police high handedness.
My driver was not even allowed to drive the vehicle and a police officer drove the vehicle to my residence at a reckless speed putting lives of many people to risk, he said and added that no one is being allowed to enter his residence.
Nobody is being allowed to meet me, which is unfortunate and condemnable. This Fauji Raaj cannot be tolerated at all, he added
Geelani lambasted the state government for alleged Police high handedness.
Youth are being arrested and inhuman restrictions like curfew have been imposed on people putting them to great difficulties. Through inhuman excesses, restrictions and arrests, they are trying to stifle Kashmiris voices. They should stop the arrest spree and atrocities on common people forthwith, he said.
In response to a question regarding the protest calendars being issued by the Majlis-e-Mashawrat, Geelani said he would comment on the issue in due course of time after assessing the situation.
Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now
Be Part of Quality Journalism |
Quality journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising revenues are falling fast. |
| ACT NOW |
| MONTHLY | Rs 100 |  |
| YEARLY | Rs 1000 | |
| LIFETIME | Rs 10000 | |
