Syed Ali Shah Geelani released from house arrest

Hurriyat hardline faction chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani was today released from house arrest to allow him to take part in the funeral of his younger brother, who died after a prolonged illness here.

Geelani, who was under house arrest for last several days, was allowed to move outside his house and visit his ancestral village in north Kashmir's Sopore town after his brother Wali Mohammad Shah Geelani passed away at a hospital here last night.

"No cordon has been laid around his house and he is free to attend the funeral prayer of his brother or move elsewhere," a police spokesman said in a statement.

He said Geelani, who was prevented to offer Eid prayers yesterday, had met his ailing brother on November 3 at the hospital.

Hurriyat spokesman Ayaz Akbar said Geelani's younger brother was suffering from liver ailment and was undergoing treatment at Soura Medical Institute.

"Geelani led the funeral prayers at Dooru village after police lifted the cordon around his house," the spokesman said.