Indian troops barring people from meeting ailing Kashmiri leader

Indian media says Syed Ali Geelani is in

Published: 04:58 PM, 17 Feb, 2020
Indian troops barring people from meeting ailing Kashmiri leader
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Authorities in Indian-occupied Kashmir are restricting people to meet ailing All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) chairman Syed Ali Geelani.

Hordes of police and paramilitary troops have been deployed outside the Hyderpora residence of the pro-Pakistan freedom leader who are not letting anyone enter his residence.

The authorities have also installed CCTV cameras at several places in the area, a journalist from Srinagar told Kashmir Media Service.

Indian authorities however rejected this assertion and Indian media cited SKIMS director Dr A G Ahangar as saying that Geelani's health condition is stable and he is conscious.

Dr Ahangar was also reported as saying that his relatives meet him regularly. To say Indian authorities are not allowing people to meet the Hurriyat leader is nothing but rumour mongering, he added.

Islami Tanzeem-e-Azadi, in a statement, expressed its concern on “the lack of access of medical facilities” to the APHC chairman.

“India is planning to let Syed Ali Geelani die in the absence of proper treatment."

It further said that despite his weakness, Geelani is not ready to reconcile with Indian rulers.

In a video message, Foreign Minister of Pakistan Shah Mehmood Qureshi sent wishes and prayers to Syed Ali Shah Geelani for his quick recovery.

Last week, a video of the APHC chairman surfaced on social media in which Geelani while looking frail, can be heard mumbling Pakistan's national anthem and a few Islamic prayers.

The Kashmir freedom struggle leader is suffering from multiple ailments including an acute respiratory infection.

The Indian government had placed him under house arrest in 2015, accusing him of inciting violence, but he has remained a vehement campaigner for Kashmir freedom.

Geelani once said: "Even if India paves our roads with gold, even then it cannot pay for the blood of our martyrs. Even then it cannot stop us from seeking freedom."

In a recent video message, the veteran leader let is last wish known.

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News Editor

The writer is News Editor at 24 News (Digital).