Tight vigil at Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s Hyderpora burial site

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 13

Central and J&K police forces have been keeping a close watch on the grave of former separatist leader and Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani, as they fear that the pro-Pakistan leader’s aides and supporters may try to build a shrine or a memorial around it. Officials in the J&K security establishment said nearly three dozen police and paramilitary vehicles have been deployed in a radius of 500-metre around the grave of the former separatist leader.

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No one allowed near the grave

• Security personnel have been asked not to allow anyone near the grave or click pictures from a distance
• Pro-Pakistan Syed Ali Shah Geelani passed away recently and laid to rest in Hyderpora on September 2

Security officials said the move had been taken to debar people from gathering around the grave and make an attempt to create a memorial by his followers. According to them security arrangements have been made in all the lanes leading to the place where the Hurriyat leader was laid to rest on September 2.

The separatist leader was buried in the lawns of Jama Masjid, located on the airport road in Hyderpora area on the outskirts of Srinagar, which is near his residence in the Rehmatabad area of the city.

Avoiding any law and order issue, the J&K administration and the UT police had buried Geelani during night hours.

The CRPF has also placed a mine protected vehicle (MPV) in one of the lanes leading to the graveyard, said officials, while adding that the view of the grave had also been blocked by a green shade net on one of the walls.

Officials said a complete security drill had been placed there as the troopers had been asked not to allow anybody to go near the grave or click pictures from a distance.

A senior government official said, “The graveyard where Geelani has been buried is being secured by central forces. They will continue to remain deployed along with the local police to avoid any law and order situation in the coming days.”