Curfew on in Kashmir, Syed Ali Shah Geelani arrested

Srinagar: Hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani was arrested on Wednesday even as curfew continued in parts of Kashmir Valley for the second consecutive day amidst a separatists’ called shutdown.

Curfew was imposed in Srinagar city, while restrictions were in place in Anantnag, Bijbehara and Kangan.

Meanwhile, Geelani was arrested from his Hyderpora residence.

“Geelani has been arrested under sections 107 (under which any person can be placed under arrest who instigates a crowd which may lead to law and order problem) and 151 of RPC as there are apprehensions that he is a threat to public peace and order,” a senior police official said.

Normal life was affected in other parts by the shutdown called by Geelani’s Hurriyat Conference (HC).

The HC, in its latest ‘protest calendar’, had called for a shutdown on Wednesday and asked people to resume normal life for three days since Thursday for Eid festivities.

The group has also urged the people to have austere Eid celebrations due to the prevailing situation in the Valley and close to 70 deaths since mid-June.

After a relatively calm week, tension in Kashmir flared up again on Monday when four youths were killed and about 17 injured in clashes of civilians with law enforcers.

The valley has been experiencing simmering tension for over three months now as clashes between violent protesters and the security forces continue to claim lives.