Geelani walks free, offers Friday congregational prayers at Jamia Masjid Hyderpora

Srinagar: For the first time after 2010 summer unrest the Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani Friday walked free and offered congregational Friday prayers at the Jamia Masjid Hyderpora in the outskirts of Srinagar city. However protests erupted at Hyderpora Chowk after Geelani’s address to a gathering in the local Jamia Masjid.
Reports said Geelani along with his lieutenant Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai and other aides left his Hyderpora residence at around 1 pm for the prayers.
Earlier, the amalgam’s spokesperson had confirmed that Geelani would offer Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid Hyderpora.
Geelani has been under house confinement for the past eight years and he wasn’t allowed to offer Friday prayers in the masjid since then.
The development comes a day after director general of police S P Vaid said that Geelani, Mirwaiz and Malik were free to go anywhere they wish to. He, however, said the trio should not make “anti-national” speeches or create a law and order problem.
Meanwhile clashes erupted after congregational Friday prayerd in Hydepora Chowk in uptown Srinagar near a mosque where Hurriyat (G) chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani addressed the gathering . Geemani was allowed to walk free after about eight years of house detention on Friday morning .
An eye witness said that youth took to streets and pelted the government forces deployed in the area with stones.
The forces, he said, responded by firing tear gas to disperse the protesters.
Clashes ensued soon after prayers ended at the Jamia Masjid Hyderpora where Geelani offered prayers and addressed the gathering.
88-year-old leader, who looked weak, didn’t speak to the reporters and left for his nearby residence soon after the prayers were over.
Geelani had offered prayers at the mosque in 2010 and had been under house detention since.