After videos surfaced showing the body of hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani wrapped in a Pakistani flag and the alleged raising of “anti-national” slogans after his death, Jammu and Kashmir police have filed a case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, according to PTI, citing officials.
According to the news agency, the Budgam Police have filed a first information report (FIR) under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Indian Penal Code against unnamed people (IPC). A video of Geelani’s body draped in a Pakistani flag was discovered by police.
Geelani, 91, died at his home on Wednesday night after a long illness. Early on Thursday, he was buried in a quiet funeral at a nearby mosque’s graveyard in Srinagar’s Hyderpora. Only close relatives and neighbours were allowed to attend the funeral, which was held in a graveyard that had been completely sealed by the authorities. Geelani’s family told reporters that the police forcibly removed his body and buried him before his relatives arrived in Srinagar. They also claimed that the cops had misbehaved with them.
The situation across Kashmir remained peaceful on Saturday following Geelani’s death, even as several people were taken into preventive detention to maintain law and order, police said. “Today, the situation across Kashmir valley remained peaceful and no untoward incident was reported from anywhere except one minor pelting in Narkara area of Budgam,” a police spokesperson was quoted as saying by PTI.
According to the spokesperson, several preventive measures, including preventive arrests, have been taken to maintain law and order situations.
“People are yet again requested not to pay any heed to the rumours being maliciously spread by the anti-national elements especially across the border with an objective to disturb the prevalent peaceful atmosphere in the valley,” Vijay Kumar, inspector general of police (Kashmir), said.
Following Geelani’s death, the restrictions on communications and movement were eased on Saturday. In parts of Kashmir, mobile calling and broadband internet services were restored, and other restrictions were partially lifted. Mobile phone Internet access had yet to be restored.
