J&K: Geelani placed under house arrest

Authorities in Srinagar have placed breakaway Hurriyat Conference Chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani under house arrest, apprehending trouble in view of his scheduled visit to north Kashmir's Kupwara district, where a teacher was shot dead by soldiers on Friday.

Breakaway Hurriyat Conference spokesman Ayaz Akbar said Geelani was scheduled to leave for Kupwara early this morning to attend an Eid-e-Milan

there.

"The programme had been finalised last week only. Geelani was also expected to visit the residence of Abdul Rashid Mir, a teacher who was killed by the Army on Friday," he added.

Geelani was placed under house arrest on Friday night, Akbar said, adding that a police contingent had been deployed in and around the Hurriyat chairman's residence at Hyderpora near Srinagar.