SRINAGAR: An end to restrictions imposed on the movement of senior Kashmiri separatist Syed Ali Shah Geelani seems unlikely.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has said that the restrictions would stay on Geelani’s public functions as “these are followed by violence.”
“Whenever I had intervened in removing restrictions on his (Geelani’s) movement and public speeches, these have invariably been followed by incidents of stone-pelting,” Omar told reporters here, according to PTI.
The Chief Minister was responding to a question about continued house arrest of Geelani, who was not allowed to hold a seminar at his Hyderpora residence here yesterday.
Abdullah said that the restrictions will be removed “only if Geelani assured that there will be no law and order problem after his public appearances.”
“Even if you (the reporter who asked the question) assure that there will be no law and order problem, we will remove the restrictions on him (Geelani),” he added.
Syed Ali Shah Geelani, an octogenarian separatist leader who heads the hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference, has been under house arrest since the hanging of Afzal Guru on Feb 9.
He was placed under detention at his home in New Delhi and also in Kashmir immediately after he returned, eighteen days later.
