- Tuesday, February 25, 2025
By: Shubham Ghosh
VETERAN Kashmiri separatist Syed Ali Shah Geelani late on Wednesday (1) passed away at his residence in Srinagar following a prolonged illness. He was 92.
Geelani resigned from politics and Hurriyat last year. His cremation was held on Thursday (2) morning.
In March 2018, the late leader suffered a minor heart attack and was hospitalised.
“Saddened by the news of Geelani sahab’s passing away. We may not have agreed on most things but I respect him for his steadfastness & standing by his beliefs. May Allah Ta’aala grant him jannat & condolences to his family & well wishers,” former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and Peoples Democratic Party leader Mehbooba Mufti said in a tweet.
Security was strengthened in Kashmir Valley following Geelani’s death. Sources in the police said restrictions, including suspension of internet services, were imposed in the valley. Security was also beefed up outside Geelani’s house in Hyderpora area. Mobile phone services, excluding the state-run BSNL, were suspended.
Geelani left the Hurriyat, which is a political front to raise the cause of Kashmiri separatism, after an association that lasted 27 years. According to sources in the Indian home ministry that spoke to NDTV news channel, Geelani quit the body after he was sidelined by Pakistan and its army intelligence ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence).
He also accused the body of conspiring against him and failing to inspire the separatist movement after the Narendra Modi government scrapped the special status of Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019.
