Senior separatist leader again put under house arrest in India-controlled Kashmi

SRINAGAR, India-controlled Kashmir, Sept. 11 -- One day after his release from a three-month long detention, a senior Kashmiri separatist leader was again put under house arrest by Indian authorities, said police Friday.

Hurriyat hardliner and senior separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani was placed under house arrest to prevent protests against New Delhi and local government from breaking out again under his appeal, police said.

A contingent of police was deployed at Geelani's residence in Srinagar, the summer capital of the region Thursday night to prevent him from venturing out.

"Geelani Sahib was conveyed that he is under house arrest and he can't move out," said Hurriyat spokesman Ayaz Akbar.

Police and paramilitary troopers were deployed in Srinagar citya head of the Friday prayers to stop any protest demonstration, while officials termed Geelani' s arrest as a preventive measure.

"He has been placed under house arrest to prevent protest demonstrations and to maintain law and order in the city," said a police officer in Srinagar.

Geelani was released Wednesday evening after his three-month detention from an Indian sub-jail.

Geelani was arrested on June 6 for spearheading widespread protests over the rape and murder of two young women in Shopian, 50 kilometers south of Srinagar.

His release came after the region's High Court quashed the Public Safety Act against him.

The local government first put him under house arrest and thereafter took him in preventive detention.

Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Geelani said India-controlled Kashmir is a "police state".