Geelani hospitalised, likely to be released

Hard-line All Parties Hurriyat Conference chairman Sayeed Ali Shah Geelani was hospitalised today after he complained of dizziness and weakness in his detention centre at Srinagar's Chesmashahi area.

Hard-line All Parties Hurriyat Conference chairman Sayeed Ali Shah Geelani was hospitalised on Thursday after he complained of dizziness and weakness in his detention centre at Srinagar's Chesmashahi area.

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"He (Geelani) has been admitted in the Intensive Care Unit of the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) on Thursday. His blood pressure was high and tri-glyceride level too has gone up," Naseem Geelani,son of the aging separatist, told the Hindustan Times from the hospital.

Geelani was arrested on June 20 under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA), in which one can be detained for two years without a trial. He was arrested a few days before he had called for special prayers at Hazratbal Shrine, which is traditionally a religious space used by the ruling National Conference.

A social and civil society pressure is building up in Kashmir to release political prisoners. The ruling National Conference working committee on Thursday too recommended release of political leaders "so that a conducive atmosphere is created for peace and reconciliation".

Similar noises have come from the civil society in New Delhi.

Sources said Geelani might be released and put under the house arrest at his Hyderpora residence. Though Geelani's son told the HT the family has not been informed about his release.

"We have not been told about his release. He is in the hospital under security vigil. And he is showing signs of improvement," said Naseem Geelani.

Senior police officer did not confirm the government's move to release Geelani. The absence of Geelani on the separatists scene has played a negative effect in Kashmir with protesters on the streets calling the shots.

The reason Geelani might be released is to bring some semblance of regimentation in protests, which is spiraling out of the hands for both the government and separatists. Kashmir is going through a worst kind of public unrest fueled by the killing of 17 people in the last four weeks.

For the fifth week, schools, government offices and business establishments remained closed in Kashmir valley in response to separatist calls for protests and shutdown. In the last one month, Kashmir remained open for a very few days.