Geelani barred from holding rally in Shopian

Apprehending breach of peace, authorities have barred chairman of hardline Hurriyat faction Syed Ali Shah Geelani from visiting Shopian town in south Kashmir on Friday to hold a public rally.

"Following the orders of District Magistrate Srinagar, Geelani will not be allowed to move towards Shopian town tomorrow," a police spokesman said this evening Geelani was planning to visit Shopian, 55 kms from Srinagar, tomorrow to lead a rally as part of a protest programme.

The spokesman said it has been observed on a number of previous occasions that whenever Geelani visited a public place, incidents of stone pelting and disruption in peace were reported.

"On April 22, when he visited Baramulla town of north Kashmir and on May 6, when he visited Batamaloo in Central Srinagar, stone pelting incidents were reported which disrupted the peace in these areas, besides injuring a number of persons and damage to property," the spokesman said.