Srinagar: Chairman of the rebel Hurriyat Conference faction Syed Ali Shah Geelani was today (Dec 6, 2003) put under house arrest while Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) vice chairman Javid Ahmad Mir and World Islamic Students League (WISL) leader Jameel Ahmad War were detained as they were planning to lead a march in the city to protest denial of permission to hold a public rally.

The Srinagar district administration had refused permission to Geelani to hold a public rally today fearing law and order problem, as it coincided with 11th anniversary of the demolition of Babri masjid, official sources in Srinagar said.

The firebrand separatist leader had given a call for a strike today in protest, which evoked partial response in the valley, with police firing teargas shells and cane-charging his supporters trying to enforce the bandh at some places.

Geelani said a police party arrived at his Hyderpora residence at around 10.15 hrs (IST) and told his personal staff not to venture out of the premises, though no notice was served to him personally.

Mir was picked up from his in-laws' house at Maharajgunj area of downtown Srinagar this morning, while Jameel was detained from Maisuma area in the city when he was leading a procession there, after police fired teargas shells to disperse protestors pelting stones at open shops and vehicles.

Police cane-charged some youths pelting stones at passing vehicles in Dalgate area of the city, the sources said.

The bandh call given by Geelani and supported by People's League, Kashmir Bar Association, Muslim League, Muslim Khawateen Markaz and Hizbul Mujahideen evoked partial response with attendance in Government offices being near-normal and transport services remaining unaffected.

PTI