Internet suspended, restrictions imposed in Kashmir after Geelani's death

Strict restrictions have been put in place in Kashmir and the internet has been suspended in view of the passing of veteran separatist Syed Ali Shah Geelani on Wednesday evening.

Police and CRPF have been deployed in strength across Kashmir to prevent people from marching towards Geelani's residence at Hyderpora in Srinagar. The 91-year-old separatist leader, considered a patriarch of separatists in Kashmir, had wished to be buried at the martyrs' graveyard at Eidgah in Srinagar but he was buried at the local graveyard at Jama masjid at 4.30am on Thursday.

Security has been tightened in and around routes leading to Hyderpora and also at Lal Chowk and surrounding areas. Markets are shut and transport is also off the road.

The veteran separatist was battling from poor health, especially, renal issues for a few years.

He is survived by two sons and six daughters. Born in 1929 at Zurmanz, a village on the banks of the Wular lake in Bandipora, Geelani rose to become the face of separatist politics after the formation of Hurriyat Conference in 1993.

He became the chairman of the separatist conglomerate in 2000 but broke camp with the coalition in 2003 over the fielding of proxy candidates in the 2002 assembly elections by Abdul Gani Lone led People's Conference, a constituent and executive member of the Hurriyat Conference.

The same year he floated his own party the Tehreek-e-Hurriyat and with the support of like-minded parties like Muslim League led by Masarat Alam created Hurriyat Conference-G (Geelani).

He was elected the Hurriyat chairman in 2000, but, in 2003, he broke camp with them after the Peoples Conference led by slain Abdul Gani Lone fielded proxy candidates in the 2002 assembly polls.

Geelani then floated his own party, Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, and with the support of other hardliners, formed another faction of Hurriyat Conference and was nominated lifetime chairman of the group.