The Jammu and Kashmir police on Wednesday arrested influential hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani from his Srinagar residence saying he posed a serious threat to peace and that his arrest was a preventive measure.
However, the arrest is being seen here as a move by the government to prevent the octogenarian separatist leader from offering Id prays at Srinagar’s historic Hazratbal shrine. Mr Geelani had earlier this week announced that he would be offering Id prayers at Hazratbal and on Tuesday when he was placed under house arrest here amidst renewed tensions set off by the killing of four persons in police firings at Palhalan, about 28-km northwest of here, he vowed to breach the restriction and also defy curfew if in force in Srinagar on the Id day to make it to Hazratbal.
The pledge was apparently regarded as a challenge by the government. Also, Hazrtabal has been a preferred and comparatively secure place of worship for the mainstream politicians, including chief minister Omar Abdullah and his father Union minister Dr Farooq Abdullah to offer prayers on the two Ids and other important religious occasions. Mr Geelani’s presence could have pushed the father-son duo and other mainstream politicians who may wish to relocate to Hazratbal on Id in a tight spot. The arrest also led to rumours here that Mr Geelani was being flown to New Delhi or would be lodged at a secluded place where the Central government representatives would hold talks with him as part of its latest effort to break the Kashmir impasse.
However, a police statement issued here said that the 82-year-old leader has been taken into preventive custody by the Budgam police under Sections 107 and 151 of CrPC. “He had planned certain programmes which could have disturbed the public order. Keeping in view all the expected developments which could have occurred by his moves, he was arrested and has been lodged in police post, Humhama,” the statement said.
According to Mr Geelani’s aide Ayaz Akbar, a huge contingent of police arrived at his residence at Hyderpora here on Wednesday afternoon and asked him to accompany it. He was then removed to nearby Humhama police station. While being arrested, Mr Geelani in a brief speech before a group of visitors and reporters delivered asked the people to offer Id prayers at Srinagar’s Idgah grounds and wear black bandages as a mark of protest. He also asked them to follow his protest programme in letter and spirit which includes protest chalo march on the summer headquarters of the United Nations Military Observers’ Group in India and Pakistan at Srinagar’s Gupkar road on September 13. He warned that if the Centre failed to come out with as positive response to the five conditions set by him for breaking the ice the ongoing “Quit Jammu and Kashmir” campaign would only be intensified after Id.
Mr Geelani was last time arrested on June 20 after the law and order situation in the Kashmir Valley turned worse following the killing of a 17-year-old student in police action in downtown Srinagar and was released on August 4.
Meanwhile, about two dozen persons were injured in fresh clashes along the streets of Srinagar and the towns of Pampore, Ganderbal and Sopore on Wednesday.