Srinagar: Former Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Geelani was laid to rest at Hyder Pora, Srinagar amid restrictions imposed by Jammu and Kashmir administration. Few relatives and neighbours were allowed to offer prayers at his grave.
According to a police source, some neighbours and relatives were allowed to go to the Jamia Masjid graveyard at Hyder Pora, Srinagar, where Geelani is buried, for prayers. Meanwhile, Geelani's son Naseem claimed that he was not allowed to attend his father's funeral.
"My father's body was forcibly taken for the last rites. He was bathed at the mosque and then buried there. During this time, the women were also thrashed by the police."
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"About 50 people attended my father's funeral, including members of the mosque committee, some neighbours and some relatives," he added.
Police, however, has denied the claims. Kashmir Zone IGP Vijay Kumar said, "Reported allegations against Police are baseless. In fact, Police facilitated in bringing dead-body from house to graveyard as there was apprehension that miscreants might take undue advantage of situation. Relatives participated in last rites."
It should be noted that Gilani, 92, has been active in Kashmir politics for around 50 years. A few months ago, he resigned from the Hurriyat Conference (G).
During his long political career, Syed Ali Gilani was a member of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly from the Jamaat-e-Islami and the Muslim United Front for at least 15 years. He later bid adieu to mainstream politics and played a key role as a separatist leader.
Geelani has been under house arrest for the past 13 years. He was detained during Omar Abdullah's rule in 2010 when a public protest against the killing of four Kashmiri youths in a mock clash led by him took place in Kashmir in which dozens of people were killed.
