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India has enforced a lockdown on public motion and communications within the disputed Kashmir area after the dying of a high separatist chief.
Syed Ali Geelani died late on Wednesday on the age of 92 and was buried in a quiet funeral organised by the authorities below harsh restrictions, his son Naseem Geelani instructed the Related Press.
“They snatched his physique and forcibly buried him,” Mr Geelani mentioned, as he defined the household had deliberate to bury his father on the primary martyrs’ graveyard in Srinagar, the area’s primary metropolis, however police didn’t permit it.
“No person from the household was current for his burial,” he added. “We tried to withstand, however they overpowered us and even scuffled with girls.”
Syed Ali Geelani was the figurehead of Kashmir’s motion for the precise to self-determination and argued for the merger of Kashmir with Pakistan. Pic: AP
Officers buried Mr Geelani’s physique and banned any mass funeral in anticipation of anti-India protests, the Press Belief of India reported.
Armed police and troopers patrolled the area as most Kashmiris remained inside their houses.
Authorities forces blocked roads and bridges with metal barricades and razor wire, and arrange checkpoints throughout cities and villages within the Kashmir Valley.
Authorities additionally lower a lot of the main cell phone networks and cellular web service.
Mr Geelani was the figurehead of Kashmir’s motion for the precise to self-determination and argued for the merger of Kashmir with Pakistan.
He strongly opposed dialogue with New Delhi and have become emblematic of Kashmir’s defiance in opposition to Indian rule.
He led a faction of the All Events Hurriyat Convention which used civil disobedience to counter Indian rule, which Kashmiri rebels have fought in opposition to since 1989.
Indian paramilitary troopers patrol as civilians stroll in a abandoned market space in Srinagar, Indian managed Kashmir. Pic: AP
Pakistan noticed a day of official mourning and flags flew at half-mast on the orders of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
“Pakistan strongly condemns the barbaric act of snatching of the mortal stays of the long-lasting Kashmiri chief” by Indian police, the international ministry mentioned in a press release.
It mentioned the Indian authorities was “so afraid of Syed Geelani and what he stood for that they’ve now resorted to this inhuman act even after his passing away”.
“This reveals the diploma of callousness on a part of the Occupation Forces,” the assertion added.
Kashmir has been an space of competition between India and Pakistan, each of which declare the area for themselves however rule solely in components.
Tens of hundreds of individuals have been killed within the battle and India has despatched the area into lockdown earlier than, most notably after a transfer to revoke its semi-autonomy in 2019.
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