The police “snatched” his father’s body after the family sought time till 10 a.m. Thursday, so that their close relatives who could not reach their place yet, could join the namaz-e-janaza and be present at the burial, Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s son Dr. Nayeem Geelani said, as per The Asian Age.
Nayeem reportedly said that the senior Hurriyat leader had expressed the desire to be buried at Srinagar’s Idgah Mazaar-e-Shohada or the martyrs’ cemetery but as per The Asian Age, the authorities refused and told that family that they wanted Geelani to be laid to rest at the nearby Muslim cemetery “within one hour.”
Dr. Nayeem also alleged that the police authorities then snatched his the veteran leader’s body and forcibly buried him after pushing and overpowering the family members and even scuffling with the women.
The younger brother Dr. Naseem Geelani was quoted by The Asian Age as saying, “Nobody from the family was present for his burial. We don’t know who gave him the gussal (last bath), who offered namaz-e-janaza (funeral prayer) for him and who buried him. We saw Abba Jan’s grave only at 10 am and offered fateha.”
The police authorities have not reacted to the family’s allegations and claims yet.
Meanwhile, the Press Trust of India reported that officials buried Geelani’s body and disallowed any mass funeral in anticipation of anti-India protests.
Kashmir’s veteran pro-freedom leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani breathed his last breath at 10:30 p.m., on Wednesday. Since the news of Geelani’s death broke, the valley has remained in a state of shock.
The IGP Kashmir declared restrictions and internet blockade in the region immediately after the news spread. Geelani was 91 years old. And owing to his prolonged illness, he is said to have died of breathing complications.
Also referred to as Bab by the Kashmiri masses, Geelani was laid to rest at a cemetery located near his residence at Hyderpora, Srinagar between 3:30 a.m. and 4:00 a.m., on Thursday.
The funeral took place in haste and under a dense security. Minor stone-pelting incidents were said to have broken in parts of the region as the news of his demise spread, but the police imposed curfew like restrictions immediately.
Geelani had been under house detention for many years now. Previously, a member of the Jamat-e-Islami, Geelani went on and founded the Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, which he quit in June, 2020.
Geelani was also an elected MLA from the Sopore constituency in 1972, 1977 and in 1987. He had written several books including Rudad-i-qafas, which was a memoir of his time in prison.