Hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani was on Wednesday detained before his scheduled visit to Kulgam district where he had planned to campaign for withdrawal of troops from the state, officials said.
The Chairman of Hardline faction of Hurriyat Conference was taken into preventive custody soon after he left his Hyderpora residence, on Srinagar-Airport road and was lodged at Humhama Police station, they said.
Strongly condemning the police action, Hurriyat spokesman Ayaz Akbar said the aged leader was "arrested" to prevent him from visiting Kulgam on November six as part of his ongoing campaign to press for withdrawal of troops from the valley.
"The authorities were disturbed after witnessing massive response of the people to his visit to Shopian and Baramulla districts on October 25 and November 1, respectively, where thousands of people rallied behind him in support of the demand for withdrawal of Indian troops," Akbar said.
He said Geelani was scheduled to visit University of Kashmir on Wednesday to meet the faculty and students to mobilize support for his campaign.
Geelani had asked people of Kulgam to observe a general strike on November six and was scheduled to visit the South Kashmir district, 70 kms from here, to address a public meeting.
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