New Delhi, Feb 10 (IANS): A day after he was detained following the hanging of Afzal Guru, Delhi University lecturer S.A.R. Geelani Sunday said his detention by police happened because he had spoken to the media.

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

Geelani, who teaches at Zakir Hussain College, Delhi University, was arrested for his alleged involvement in the parliament attack of Dec 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 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 has 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 p.m. 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 Saturday afternoon, after media persons arrived at the scene and protested his detention.