Upon arrival, Geelani lands in police custody

Srinagar, November 25: Hurriyat Conference (G) Chairman and the co-chairman of Jammu Kashmir coordination committee,(JKCC)  Syed Ali Shah Geelani was placed under house arrest minutes after he landed at Srinagar Airport on Tuesday.

Hurriyat Chairman was operated and his pace maker replaced at New Delhi’s Escorts heart institute last month. He was scheduled to arrive in valley on November 14 and address an anti-election rally at tourist reception centre (TRC) grounds. However, due to the inclement weather, all inbound and outbound flights were suspended.

Fearing large participation of people in the TRC programme, the authorities had imposed undeclared curfew across the Valley to prevent the people from assembling at the venue.

According to reports and officials, Geelani was arrested minutes after the Kingfisher airlines flight he was travelling in landed at the Srinagar Airport at noon. He was then bundled in an official vehicle and brought to his residence by the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Bashir Khan before being placed under house-arrest.

As soon as Geelani arrived at his Hyderpora residence amid tight security, dozens of his supporters gave him a rousing welcome amid pro-Islam, pro-Freedom, Pro-Geelani and anti-election slogans.

“No sooner had we stepped out of the plane, the police that was deployed in strength at the run way told us that we’re under arrest,” Geelani told journalists at his Hyderpora residence after arrival from the Srinagar airport.

“My wife, son and I were asked to board the official vehicle to reach home from the airport, “he added

Earlier, the police had laid siege around the residence of the Hurriyat (G) Chairman and strict vigil was being kept on the activists of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat. The police had also placed jammers outside the residence of the septuagenarian leader.

Rejecting the claims of higher voter turnout by the government in the recently held two phases of assembly elections in the state, Hurriyat (G) Chairman said that in presence of 8 lakh troops, no one can expect free and fair elections as claimed by the government.

“The so-called elections are a drama played by the government with the support of its 8 lakh troops in the valley,” he said.

“Troops and police are harassing and threatening people to participate in the polls or face consequences,” he added.

When asked if any official from government of India met him during his stay in New Delhi, Geelani said that Chief Information Commissioner (GOI) Wajahat Habibullah visited him to enquire about his well being. However, he said that Habibullah visited him in his personal capacity not as an official.

Hurriyat (G) Chairman also announced to adress a press conference at his Hyderpora residence at 11 morning, Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the Hurriyat Conference (G) has condemned the nocturnal raid by the police in civvies on the residence of its legal cell head, Altaf Ahmad Shah, who is also the son-in-law of the Hurriyat Chairman. In a statement issue on Tuesday, the spokesman has said that the harassment of the party members by the police will not deter them from carrying ahead the ongoing freedom struggle.