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Kashmiri Separatist Prevented From Leading Anti-US Protests

By Fayaz Wani

Srinagar, Aug 10: The hardline Kashmiri separatist leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who was to stage protest demonstrations against the United States today, was placed under house arrest by the authorities in restive Kashmir to prevent him from staging protests.

A Geelani spokesman, Ayaz Akbar told Newsblaze that a posse of Indian policemen was deployed outside the residence of the hardline Kashmiri leader in the wee hours today. A police officer visited the Geelani's residence and told him that he is under house arrest and as such he cannot leave his home. Eight to ten armed policemen were deployed outside the Hyderpora residence of Geelani to prevent him from moving out.

Geelani was scheduled to lead anti-US protests at Machwa in the outskirts of Srinagar. Since he was not allowed to leave his house, he could not visit Machwa to lead the protest demonstrations.

Meanwhile, protests against the US were reported from some places in Kashmir. There were reports that people took to roads at Machwa, Maisuma, Qazi Masjid in downtown Srinagar and staged anti-US protests. The protestors were raising anti-America, anti-Bush, anti-Israel and pro-Islamic slogans. The protestors also burnt tyres on the roads and later clashed with police, who tried to disperse them.

Geelani heads the hardline faction of separatist conglomerate, Huriyat Conference in Kashmir and has termed US republican presidential hopeful Tom Tancredo's statement as his frustration. Geelani said, "By threatening to attack the Islamic holy sites in Makkah and Madinah and attacking Pakistan, America has announced a war against the whole Muslim nation and Muslims cannot tolerate it".

Expressing concern over the threats to attack Islamic holy sites in Mecca and Medina, Geelani has asked people of the restive Kashmir Valley to stage peaceful protest demonstrations against United States on August 10

It is pertinent to mention here that fearing militant attack, Tancredo had recently said, "If it is up to me, we are going to explain that an attack on this homeland of that nature would be followed by an attack on the Islamic holy sites in Mecca and Medina. Because that is the only thing I can think of that might deter somebody from doing what they otherwise might do".

Fayaz Wani reports on life in Srinagar, Kashmir.