Hurriyat leader Geelani detained over provocative speech in J&K

SRINAGAR: Hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani was on Sunday detained by police for making a "provocative" speech, minutes after he gave a call for a bandh in Kashmir tomorrow against the killing of two youths in Kupwara district.

Police said the 80-year-old separatist leader was detained as a "preventive measure" after Geelani addressed a religious gathering in Salkote area of Kupwara, 120 km from here.

"His (Geelani's) statements during the address seemed to be provocative and we feared it might prompt violence. So as a preventive measure, we detained him to avoid law and order problem," Senior Superintendent of Police, Kupwara, Uttam Chand said.

Geelani and the Hurriyat's moderate faction headed by Mirwaiz Umer Farooq had given separate calls for Kashmir bandh tomorrow.

Violence broke out in various parts of old city this morning during the funeral procession of 25-year-old Mohammad Rafiq Bangroo who succumbed to injuries last night after being allegedly beaten up by CRPF personnel on June 12.

A mob tried to torch a mobile bunker of CRPF in Noorbagh locality, prompting the paramilitary force personnel to open fire which left Javid Ahmad Malla and injuries to four others.

Hurriyat Conference spokesman Ayaz Akbar, however, termed as "baseless" police's charge that Geelani had made a provocative speech.

"It was a peaceful religious gathering. His speech wasn't provocative at all. These allegations are totally baseless," he claimed.

General Secretary Tehreek-e-Hurriyat Ashraf Sehrai who was accompanying Geelani was also detained, official sources said.

Geelani, addressing the religious gathering, alleged that the forces have been ordered "shoot at sight".

"We cannot remain mute spectators to the ongoing killings. The need of hour is to lodge a strong protest which will shake the Indian institutions," he said.

He asked the leaders of mainstream parties to resign from the assembly.