Afzal Guru hanging: I was detained for talking with media, says SAR Geelani

A day after he was detained following the hanging of Afzal Guru, Delhi University lecturer SAR Geelani on Sunday said his detention by the police happened because he had spoken to the media.

"They did not want me to speak to the press, so they detained me," Geelani said.

Geelani, who teaches at Zakir Hussain College, Delhi University, was arrested for his alleged involvement in the Parliament attack of December 13, 2001. He was acquitted by the Supreme Court in 2003.

On Saturday, Geelani spoke to the press soon after Afzal Guru, convicted in that case, was hanged. Geelani had slammed the government for hanging the man without informing his family in Kashmir.

Geelani was picked up by Delhi Police's Special Cell on Saturday. Some other leaders from Kashmir were also detained.

"They took me to the Special Cell offices in New Friends Colony," Geelani said.

Delhi Police have, however, claimed they did not detain Geelani. Sources from the force admitted, however, that some people were being "monitored" as a preventive measure.

Geelani said that he had been let off after 10 pm on Saturday, and has been "advised" not to go out of his house.

"Even today, I have been advised to stay home. It's like home arrest," Geelani said.

Police also detained Hurriyat leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and journalist Iftikhar Gilani.

Iftikar Gilani was released on Saturday afternoon, after media persons arrived at the scene and protested his detention.