Geelani put under house arrest

The chairman of the hardline faction of Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Shah Geelani was put under house arrest on Friday as Kashmir observed a complete shutdown against the alleged desecration of holy Quran by the US troops
in Guantanamo Bay detention centre, official sources said.

The strike was called by the Geelani faction of the Hurriyat Conference and supported by several groups, including Jamaat-e-Islami, Dukhtaran-e-Millat and Muslim Khawateen Markaz.

Geelani was put under house arrest early in the morning as he prepared to lead a protest demonstration after the Friday
prayers.

Four activists of Jammu and Kashmir Salvation Movement were also taken into preventive custody.

In downtown Srinagar, Dukhtaran-e-Millat activists burnt the US flag and raised slogans against the George W Bush
administration.

Similar protests were held at several places across the Valley.