Family claims police forcibly took away body
POLICE OFFICERS APPROACHED US AND TOLD THAT THEY HAD TO BURY HIM AT A LOCAL GRAVEYARD AT NIGHT, GEELANI’S SON NAYEEM SAID
SRINAGAR: Nayeem Geelani, the elder son of Syed Ali Geelani, accused the police of forcibly taking away his father’s body for burial, stating that even family members weren’t able to attend the funeral.
Nayeem, who, along with other family members, was at Geelani’s Hyderpora residence when the separatist leader passed away, said that his father had developed breathing problems around 9.30 pm. “We put him on oxygen support but he passed away around 10pm,” said Nayeem.
He said that soon after Geelani’s death, police officers approached them and told them that they had to bury the separatist leader at a local graveyard at night. “We told them about my father’s wish to be buried at Eidgah but the officer in-charge told us that there was pressure from higher officials to bury him at night.”
Nayeem, who is a doctor, said the police then forcibly took away the body at 3am.
“The body was taken to a local Jamia Masjid and then buried after religious formalities. After police snatched the body, they had asked us to attend the funeral which we refused.”
Nayeem said the family members only went to Geelani’s grave in the morning. “We had even requested the police wait till morning so that our relatives could reach the city but they didn’t pay heed to us.”
Inspector General of Police, Vijay Kumar, refused to comment on the alleged forcible snatching of Geelani’s body from his house.
A police spokesman said that the situation across valley remained peaceful.
“Pertinently, some vested interests tried to spread baseless rumours about forcible burial of SAS Geelani by police. Such baseless reports which are as a part of false propaganda to incite violence are totally refuted by the police. As a matter of fact, police facilitated in bringing the body from house to graveyard as there were apprehensions of miscreants taking undue advantage of the situation. The relatives of the deceased participated in the burial,” he said, adding that restrictions and internet shutdown will continue tomorrow.