Chairman of the breakaway Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Shah Geelani was Friday taken into preventive custody near his Rawalpora residence.

Official sources said Geelani was put under house arrrest since February 22 to prevent him from visiting Handwara where four youths were killed allegedly by the army during a search operation.

They said when Geelani attempted to leave his home for Friday prayers, he was taken into custody by the police personnel deployed there.

Later, a group of Geelani's supporters protested against his arrest.

A report from Kupwara said police burst teargass shells and resorted to lathicharge to disperse people who were on their way to Handwara from Kupwara.

Official sources said police action came at Bohama 2 km from Kupwara after people in about two dozen vehicles were raising slogans.

Two persons were reportedly injured in the police action, they said.