Pro-Pakistan separatist Syed Ali Shah Geelani was buried here on the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday in a quiet funeral organised by authorities. Amid tight security and restrictions with mobile connectivity by and large snapped in Kashmir.
The 91-year-old was buried at a mosque near his residence according to his wishes, his close aides said.
However, his son Naeem said that they wanted to bury him at the Idgah in downtown Srinagar.
Geelani, who spearheaded separatist politics for over three decades in Jammu and Kashmir, died after a prolonged illness on Wednesday night at his residence in Hyderpora on the outskirts of Srinagar city.
However, authorities have imposed restrictions and shut internet and mobile service barring BSNL post-paid service in Kashmir as senior separatist leader and former Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Geelani was laid to rest in a local graveyard near his Hyderpora residence in Srinagar in the early hours of Thursday.
The burial of 92-year-old Geelani, who passed away at his residence yesterday evening, was held at 4. 45 am today. His family members, some relatives and neighbours were allowed to participate in his burial.
Immediately after his death at around 10. 30 pm, authorities imposed restrictions in Srinagar and other parts of the Valley to restrict public movement and prevent people from thronging to Geelani’s residence to pay their homage.
Syed Ali Shah Geelani: Lone voice of opposition to Musharraf’s four-point formula to resolve Kashmir issue
Meanwhile, mobile phone services, barring post-paid connections of state-run BSNL, and internet were shut down as a precautionary measure to prevent rumours and fake news from circulating.
Barricades had been erected at various places and all vehicles were being thoroughly checked.
Geelani, who was under house detention since 2010, was not keeping well and was suffering from multiple ailments.
Geelani, who was born on September 29, 1929, had been part of mainstream politics till eruption of militancy in Jammu and Kashmir in 1989. He had contested and won Assembly polls from Sopore in 1972, 1977 and 1987.
After eruption of militancy, Geelani had joined separatist politics, emerged as one of strong face of separatist movement in J&K.
Known for his hardline ideology and advocating Jammu and Kashmir’s accession with Pakistan. Geelani quit his faction of separatist conglomerate Hurriyat Conference in June last year. He was heading the Hurriyat faction since 2003.
He was topposed to any bilateral talks with India and always favoured tripartite talks involving Pakistan, Kashmiri leaders and India.
Former Jammu-Kashmir CM and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti and People’s Conference chairman Sajjad Gani Lone have condoled Geelani’s demise.
He was the only Kashmiri leader to oppose former Pakistan military ruler General Parvez Musharraf’s 4-point Kashmir formula.