Hurriyat leader Geelani placed under house arrest

A contingent of police and paramilitary personnel cordoned off the residence of Geelani at Hyderpora here at around 1100 hrs, they said but did not assign any reason for the step.

A Hurriyat hardline group spokesman said the step was taken to "prevent Geelani and his associates" from visiting the 'Martyrs Graveyard' at Naqshband Sahib in downtown Srinagar.

He said while all the other political parties were allowed to visit the graveyard and pay homage, the hardline Hurriyat faction led by Geelani was "singled out and barred".