Breakaway Hurriyat's Geelani under house arrest

Chairman of the breakaway Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Shah Geelani was put under house arrest to prevent him from addressing an anti-election rally in south Kashmir.

Official sources said Geelani was put under house arrest as a precautionary measure since Friday morning.

He will not be allowed to leave his house till further orders.

An HC spokesman, Aiyaz Akbar, said a large number of police personnel have been deployed around the Hyderpora residence of Geelani since 6 am on Friday.

He said a senior police officer informed the Hurriyat chairman that he has been put under house arrest following orders from higher authorities.

Akbar said the HC chairman was scheduled to address an anti-election rally at Shopian in south Kashmir

The HC has already started an anti-poll campaign in the Kashmir valley saying that election or selection will not help resolve the Kashmir issue.

Geelani has appealed to people to stay away from the poll process.

Akbar said Geelani was put under house arrest after he successfully held two anti-poll rallies at Sumbal and Sopore where thousands attended the rallies.

Akbar said the anti-poll campaign will continue and other HC leaders will continue with rallies as per schedule.