New Delhi: Amid the controversy hogging around the funeral of separatist leader Syed Ali Shah (SAS) Geelani with allegations that his relatives and acquaintances were deliberately kept out from the last rites, Kashmir police has released a series of videos countering the claims.
The Kashmir Police also narrated the whole event that followed the night Geelani died till his burial. The police claimed that the sons of the Kashmiri leader initially agreed to carry out the funeral in the night but later, refused to let the body go "under pressure from Pakistan and miscreants and " resorted to anti-national activities.
The claims by police include allegations that Geelani's sons wrapped his dead body in a Pakistan's flag and shouted pro-Pakistan slogans.
"After the death of SAS Geelani, IGP Kashmir Shri Vijay Kumar along with SP & ASP met both of his sons at their residence at 11pm, & requested for that they carry out the burial in the night in the larger interest of the general public as it could create a potential L&O situations. Both agreed and asked to wait for two hours until their relatives arrived. IGP Kashmir personally spoke to a few relatives and ensured them of a safe passage," the police posted on Twitter.
"However, three hours later probably under the pressure from Pakistan & miscreants they behaved differently & started resorting to anti-national activities including wrapping Geelani's dead body in a Pakistani flag, shouting pro Pakistan slogans and instigating neighbours to come out," it said.
"After persuasion the relatives brought the dead body to the graveyard and performed the last rites with due respect in the presence of members of Intizamia Committee and local Imam," the post read further.
The police also stated that the "refusal of both his sons to come to the graveyard indicated their loyalty to Pakistani agenda rather than their love & respect for their departed father."
The videos shared by the police showed that scores of people attended the burial of Geelani and a step by step procedure of the last rite being followed. “Video of Ghusul (Abolution) of late SAS Geelani” and “Video of wrapping shroud (Kafan) after abolution (ghusual) of SAS Geelani” are the captions of two of the six videos shared by the police read.
One of the videos also showed that the people present during the funeral offered the last prayer for the deceased.
Geelani’s younger son, Syed Naseem Geelani, had alleged that police personnel had barged into their house the night Geelani died, took away the body, and held a quiet burial on their own.
However, the Kashmir police have repeatedly denied the allegations and maintained that the relatives had attended the last rites of the late Kashmiri leader. The videos also showed that no men in uniform were taking part in the last rites.
Relatives had said they were not allowed to perform the last rites of the separatist leader, including the ritual funeral bath. However, a video shared by the police clearly showed that the ritual was performed by the people present there at the funeral site. Meanwhile, the police did not clarify whether the crowd present there included Geelani’s relatives.
The body of Geelani, who died on Wednesday night at his Hyderpora (Srinagar) residence, was draped in the Pakistan flag before it was buried at a graveyard in a nearby mosque, according to a video that went viral. Following that, a strict security clampdown was imposed, similar to the restrictions enforced on August 5, 2019, when Jammu & Kashmir’s special status was revoked and it was divided into two UTs.
The police have registered the first information report (FIR) against unnamed people under various provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Indian Penal Code (IPC) after the video surfaced.
Mobile Internet services were shut down as a precautionary measure. However, the police informed on Monday that the mobile internet will be reinstated in the valley, except at Srinagar and Budgam. “Mobile internet will be open shortly today by 7pm in all districts except Srinagar & Budgam. Will review about Srinagar & Budgam tomorrow afternoon: IGP Kashmir,” the tweet shared by the police read.
The 92-year-old Geelani was a prominent political figure in J&K’s politics. The three-time member of the legislative assembly from the Sopore constituency was known for his pro-Pakistan thoughts. He died on Wednesday after prolonged illness. (UNI)
