Security forces on Monday launched a massive operation in Hyderpora area in Srinagar to prevent hard-line Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani from addressing a press conference at his residence.
Geelani is scheduled to address a press conference in connection with the recent arrest of four of his senior colleagues under Public Safety Act and judicial custody of 13 others.
The Central Reserve Police Force and Jammu and Kashmir police personnel cordoned off Hyderpora, including Geelani's house on the Srinagar-Airport road.
A CRPF official guarding the by lane towards Geelani's residence said they have instructions from higher authorities not to allow anybody to enter the area. He said the operation was conducted following information on the presence of militants.
However, official sources said security forces were looking for people who participated in the April 22 rally when anti-national slogans were raised.
A First Information Report (number 70/2007) was lodged in the Safa Kadal police station on April 22 against Geelani and others, when a section of media reported that militants belonging to the Lashkar-e-Tayiba and the Hizbul Mujahideen were present in the rally organised to accord welcome to Geelani on his return from New Delhi, where he was recuperating following his kidney surgery at Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital in Mumbai on March 26.
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