Amidst curbs on mobile internet and restrictions on people’s movement in India’s Kashmir valley, Pakistan summoned the Indian charge d'affaires to the Foreign Office in Islamabad accusing New Delhi of what it called "shameless snatching" of Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani's body from his family, a charge denied by Indian authorities.Pakistan also alleged that India did not allow the pro-Pakistan leader’s burial to be held according to his will.

Earlier, a top police officer of the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir dismissed as “baseless” the allegations “leveled by some vested interests”.

Inspector-General of Police (Kashmir) Vijay Kumar said: “The reported allegations against the police are baseless. In fact, police facilitated in bringing the body from his house to the graveyard as there was apprehension that miscreants may take undue advantage of the situation. Relatives participated in the last rites."

In a statement, Jammu and Kashmir Police said “some vested interests” were trying to “spread baseless rumors about a forcible burial”.

The statement said such “baseless reports” were part of “false propaganda to incite violence”, being spread by “anti-national elements, especially across the border, who are trying to take undue advantage of the situation”, according to Indian Express.

The hardliner Islamist leader, who has been the face of the separatist politics in Jammu and Kashmir, had been ailing for long and had resigned from politics and All Party Hurriyat Conference last year.

in Islamabad, Pakistan in a statement said the Indian charge d'affaires was summoned to the Foreign Office on Friday, Dawn reported.

He was conveyed “Pakistan's strong demarche on Indian occupation forces' callous and inhuman handling of the mortal remains of the iconic Kashmiri leader and freedom fighter Syed Ali Shah Geelani," the Foreign Office statement said.

It was also conveyed to the envoy that India's actions were a "blatant violation" of international humanitarian laws and all tenets of civil and human rights, the FO added.

Geelani, who passed away on Wednesday, was buried in a pre-dawn ceremony on Thursday morning as Indian authorities imposed a lockdown across Kashmir.

He was buried at a cemetery near his home in the main city of Srinagar, a police source told AFP. Only a small number of his relatives were present, including two of his sons, the source added.

Geelani had wanted to be buried at the Martyrs Cemetery in Srinagar. But authorities rejected that request, the police source said.

Pakistan stressed upon the envoy that India "must refrain from any missteps that might further jeopardize regional peace".

Meanwhile, Kashmir valley continued to remain under a partial lockdown. Mobile services were restored late on Friday, two days after they were suspended following Geelani’s death.

A strict curfew was on across the Valley with large contingents of police, paramilitary and army personnel manning the roads, which were blocked by barricades and concertina wire.
The Internet continued to remain snapped and all cellular networks, barring BSNL, were shut.

Syed Ali Shah Geelani was elected to the Jammu and Kashmir assembly from the Sopore constituency in 1972, 1977 and, the last time, in 1987.

(SAM)