Separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani passed away on Wednesday at his residence in Srinagar following age-related ailments. He was 92.

Geelani, who was a member of banned Jamaat-e-Islami and chairman of hardline Hurriyat Conference, had been suffering from various ailments for nearly last two decades.

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"Saddened by the news of Geelani sahab’s passing away. We may not have agreed on most things but I respect him for his steadfastness & standing by his beliefs. May Allah Ta’aala grant him jannat & condolences to his family & well wishers," tweeted Mehbooba Mufti.

Saddened by the news of Geelani sahab’s passing away. We may not have agreed on most things but I respect him for his steadfastness & standing by his beliefs. May Allah Ta’aala grant him jannat & condolences to his family & well wishers.

— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) September 1, 2021

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Security has been strengthened in Kashmir Valley following his death. "Restrictions have been imposed in the Valley including suspension of internet services," said Kashmir IGP Vijay Kumar.

Geelani was an ideologue and a staunch proponent of the merger of Kashmir with Pakistan. Over the years, he had repeatedly said no to any dialogue with New Delhi, asserting that India can't be trusted unless it calls Kashmir a disputed territory, demilitarizes the region, and releases political prisoners for a meaningful dialogue.

The position was rejected outright by subsequent Indian governments, and he was often dubbed as a hardline politician.

Geelani's popularity catapulted to near reverence after 2008 when the region witnessed mass civil uprisings and he emerged as a prominent resistance leader among the new generation of Kashmiris. In the years that followed, hundreds of youths were killed by Indian forces in street protests.

As civilian defiance against Indian rule picked up, Geelani, along with two other top anti-India politicians, Yasin Malik and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who remain under detention, formed Joint Resistance Leadership in 2016. The group challenged India's sovereignty over Kashmir and sought to give direction to people's anger.

With inputs from PTI

(Edited by : Aditi Gautam)

First Published:Sept 1, 2021 11:42 PM IST