Barely two weeks after his nine-month detention ended, hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani has again been put under house arrest.
A spokesperson of the hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference said police laid a siege around Geelani's residence at Hyderpora near Srinagar at around 3.30pm on Saturday.
"A police party reached Geelani's residence and informed us that he was under house arrest again," said Hurriyat spokesperson Ayaz Akbar.
Condemning the restrictions, Akbar said the government was unnerved by massive participation of people in the rallies conducted by Geelani.
The octogenarian leader has conducted at least three massive rallies in various parts of the Valley since his release. He vehemently asked people to boycott the forthcoming parliamentary and assembly elections.
Geelani, during his rallies, also lashed out at the pro-India political parties in the state. "The government couldn't counter us politically so they imposed restrictions again," he added.
The Hurriyat spokesman, who condemned the fresh arrest of Geelani, said the massive support the leader got during the rallies had unnerved the government.
"They thought they will release Geelani Sahab and he would conduct rallies but nobody would participate. The crowds unnerved them," Akbar added.
{{/usCountry}}"They thought they will release Geelani Sahab and he would conduct rallies but nobody would participate. The crowds unnerved them," Akbar added.
{{/usCountry}}Soon after Geelani was released, he announced a poll boycott campaign and said he would make people aware about the "ill effects" of elections.