Videos of Syed Ali Geelani's funeral prayers released by Police

Ground Report | New Delhi: Videos of Syed Ali Geelani's funeral; Jammu and Kashmir Police have released videos of the ghusl, funeral prayers, and burial of senior Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Geelani a week after his death. The apparent reason for releasing the videos is that the police have come under fire for forcibly taking the body of an elderly leader into their custody and burying it in the dark of night.

Syed Ali Geelani's family had told some reporters that they did not know whether Gilani had been given a bath or not. Kashmir Police claimed in a statement that immediately after Syed Ali Geelani's death on September 1, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Vijay Kumar and other police officials arrived at his residence and found Syed Ali Geelani's two sons there.

"In view of the deteriorating law and order situation, he was asked to bury Ali Gilani at night," he said. Both agreed and asked for a two-hour respite so that relatives could join in the final rites.

It added: "The IGP himself spoke to several relatives and assured them of a safe passage, but three hours later the family may have changed their minds under pressure from Pakistan and miscreants and chanted anti-India slogans."

ALSO READ: Why separatist leader Geelani’s Body wrapped in Pakistani Flag?

Videos of Syed Ali Geelani's funeral

A police statement said that 'They wrapped the body in the Pakistani flag. They started shouting slogans in favor of Pakistan. He provoked the neighbors to come out of their houses, but after persuading them, the relatives brought the body to the graveyard and buried it with full respect.

The whole process took place in the presence of members of the local administration committee and the local imam. The absence of Syed Ali Geelani's sons from the graveyard is a testament to his loyalty to the Pakistani agenda and not to his respect for the deceased father. Police have already registered a case against Ali Geelani's family and other relatives for wrapping his body in the Pakistani flag and chanting anti-India slogans.

Contrary to the police statement, Syed Ali Geelani's family alleges that the police forcibly took his body into their custody and buried him in the premises of the Jama Masjid in Haiderpura Srinagar, where he was residing, contrary to his will.

The senior resistance leader had bequeathed him to be buried at the historic 'Martyrs' Shrine' in Srinagar. Syed Ali Geelani's son Dr. Naseem Geelani said that "Geelani had bequeathed him to be buried in Mazar-e-Shuhada but the police snatched his body from us and forcibly buried him in a nearby cemetery."

Dr. Naseem said "We had told the police and administration officials that our relatives had to come from far-flung areas, so we should be allowed to bury Geelani at 10 am, but the administration did not allow the body to be found at 3 pm. Was forcibly taken into custody and none of us were allowed to attend the funeral. They did not even listen to the women's cries, pushed them away, and took the body away.

ALSO READ: Who was Syed Ali Shah Geelani?

Important Points on Geelani’s Death

• Geelani, 92, passed away on Wednesday evening at his Hyderpora residence after a prolonged illness. 
• The family members had alleged that police snatched the body of Geelani in the dead of the night and buried him silently, a charge outrightly refuted by the police.
• A video showing the Pakistani flag over the body of Geelani had gone viral on social media.
• After his death, the police had imposed restrictions on gatherings in the Valley. Phone and internet services were also suspended.
• Police chief Dilbag Singh alleged that some people at the separatist leader’s home shouted anti-national slogans and misbehaved with the police.
• Geelani’s son had alleged that the police buried him forcibly. “Nobody from the family was present for his burial,” But police claimed that Geelani’s relatives participated in his last rites.
• Mobile internet in Kashmir Remained suspended. After his death, the police had imposed restrictions on gatherings in the Valley. Phone and internet services were also suspended. Srinagar’s Hyderpora neighborhood, where Geelani lived, was sealed with barbed wires.

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