Security has been put on high alert in the Valley amid rumours about the critical health condition of separatist Kashmiri hawk Syed Ali Shah Geelani.
In a late night development, the All Parties Hurriyet (Freedom) Conference released an 'urgent' statement from Muzaffarabad (Pakistan Occupied Jammu & Kashmir), saying that all Imams and people should gather at Eidgah, Srinagar, for the funeral in case Geelani breaths his last.
On the other hand, sources in the government in New Delhi said that Geelani's health condition is serious but stable.
Some reports were also doing the rounds that Geelani had passed away on Friday evening. However, his son Naseem Geelani refuted the reports as rumours and said that his father was stable.
In a two-page statement, Hurriyet announced that Geelani (90) has recently expressed his wish to be buried at the Mazar-e-Shuhada, Eidgah, Srinagar.
Hurriyet, which has its office in Muzaffarabad and Islamabad, also appealed to the people of the Valley to be respectful to the leader and join the funeral (in case he is no more).
The written statement said that for the last few days, the chest infection of Geelani was not responding to the ongoing treatment.
"There are rumours in the Valley about Geelani's health condition. Till late night, nothing adverse has been reported. We are taking stock of the situation," said a senior officer of the Srinagar police.
Considered as the senior most Hurriyat leader, Geelani was previously a member of Jamaat-e-Islami Kashmir but later on founded his own party by the name of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat.
He has served as the Chairman of the All Parties Hurriyet (Freedom) Conference, a conglomerate of separatist parties in Jammu and Kashmir.
Geelani became an MLA from Sopore constituency in 1972 and won in the Assembly polls from the same constituency in 1977 and 1987.
Teenage daughter kills ex-armyman in Mathura after he opens fire at her
A former army personnel was allegedly shot dead by his teenage daughter after he opened fire at her and his wife, injuring them seriously at Mitthauli village in Mathura district.
The incident took place on Tuesday when Chetram, 41, took out his pistol following a heated argument in the family and shot at his 38-year-old wife and 17-year-old daughter.
As he turned the weapon to shoot his 13-year-old son, the injured daughter managed to snatch the weapon from him. She then opened fire, killing the former soldier on the spot.
Chetram had served as a naik in the Jat Regiment and retired six years ago.
Chetram’s wife and daughter are battling for their lives at a private hospital.
Circle officer Alok Dubey said while one bullet scraped past the woman’s right eyebrow, the girl sustained gunshot wounds in the abdomen. Chetram was shot in his chest and abdomen, police said.
His body has been sent for post-mortem.
Police said they were waiting for them to record their statements. The girl, who is taking coaching in Allahabad, had come home two days back. Her younger brother studies in Class 9 in Mathura.
Mathura DIG Shalabh Mathur said the police had recovered a pistol, two magazines, and three live cartridges along with two empty ones from the spot.
He said Chetram was angry over his daughter’s alleged affair with a local youth.
Meanwhile, a case has been registered under Sections 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC at Naujheel police station on the basis of a complaint filed by the deceased’s brother who alleged that the daughter and her boyfriend had shot dead Chetram because he opposed their relationship.
