Syed Ali Geelani, a hardline pro-Pakistan Hurriyat leader, who spearheaded the separatist movement in Jammu and Kashmir for over three decades, was buried in Srinagar’s Hyderpora area at 4:37 am on Thursday.
Hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani died in Srinagar on Wednesday, September 1, 2021. The former Hurriyat Conference leader died at around 10.35 PM at his residence in Hyderpora in Srinagar at the age of 92 years.
Security arrangements were made for the final rites of Geelani, who was buried at Srinagar’s ‘Martyrs’ Graveyard’, where most terrorists and separatist leaders have been buried. The police allowed only a limited number of his relatives to attend the funeral.
In Valley, @JmuKmrPolice holds its own to facilitate wee-hour burial, at 4:30 am, for Kashmiri separatist Geelani, weeding out all attempts by his aides who tried even in such times to instigate locals with shutdown/protest call
— Rohan Dua (@rohanduaT02) September 2, 2021
Geelani batted for Pak.His team still uses Pak no. pic.twitter.com/BZYM19PVR4
Following Geelani’s death, the security forces have been put on high alert in the region and police and paramilitary forces have been deployed for a possible curfew. Meanwhile, Pakistan has been trying to use Geelani’s death to instigate locals to unleash violence on the streets of Kashmir.
Soon after his death, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan took to Twitter to condole the death of Geelani and claimed that Pakistan saluted his courageous struggle. He said Pakistan’s flag would fly at half-mast, and the country will observe a day of official mourning.
We in Pakistan salute his courageous struggle & remember his words: “Hum Pakistani hain aur Pakistan Humara hai”. The Pakistan flag will fly at half mast and we will observe a day of official mourning.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) September 1, 2021
Pakistan’s General Qamar Javed Bajwa has called the separatist leader an “icon” and expressed his “deepest grief” on his demise.
The pro-Pakistan separatists had given a call to Kashmiris to hit the streets to attend Geelani’s funeral procession in Srinagar and organise such mass events to mourn his death across Kashmir.
Even as separatist leader Geelani’s acolytes/aides were drumming up support over his death against Indian security forces, Kashmir Police in
— Rohan Dua (@rohanduaT02) September 2, 2021
early hours of Thursday foiled their plan to hold any procession
Thats been the hallmark of joint effort of @JmuKmrPolice, Army & CRPF pic.twitter.com/4kc1CS4bI4
However, anticipating that Pakistan would use Geelani’s death to again stoke instability in the valley, the Jammu and Kashmir Police buried him in the early hours of Thursday.
The security officials have shut down mobile internet in Kashmir valley as a precautionary measure to prevent confusion due to the spreading of rumours and incitement of violence by anti-India elements.
