Geelani held the post for 15 years since the party was formed following a split in the Hurriyat Conference in 2003.
Lashing out at Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, Rashid on Wednesday alleged that they have "destroyed" Kashmir.
A photo of Junaid Ashraf holding an AK 47 assault rifle and wearing an armour vest went viral on social media on Saturday.
If this trend continues, 2018 may end up as the worst year in terms of number of youths joining various terror groups, according to the officials.
The body of Sehrai, 77, was handed over to his family on Wednesday evening and taken in a police escort to Kupwara in north Kashmir, at least 350 km from Jammu, where he would be buried at his ancestral graveyard in accordance with the COVID-19 guidelines.
Geelani should be given travel documents on top priority for going to the West for treatment, the Hurriyat said.
Six senior separatist leaders, including hardline Hurriyat Conference leader Syed Ali Geelani and Shabir Ahmad Shah, were on Friday put under house arrest.
Junaid Ashraf Khan 'Sehrai' whose father is chairman of the separatist conglomerate Tehrek-e-Hurriyat, was killed in the encounter.
As many as 20 more youths have joined the terrorist groups in the month of May which included Rouf from Ganderbal, a fourth-semester student pursuing a diploma course in government polytechnic, the officials said.
There has been a steady rise in the number of youth taking up arms in the Valley since 2014 onwards as compared to 2011, 2012, and 2013.
Authorities shut down schools and other educational institutions in north Kashmir as a precautionary measure for maintaining law and order.
The residence of Geelani has been converted into an unofficial jail. No one is allowed to enter or leave the premises.
Curfew-like restrictions have been imposed and separatist leaders have been detained.
Akbar said around 30 members belonging to various constituents of the Geelani's faction have been invited by the Pakistan High Commission. They include Geelani, Ashraf Sehrai, Shabir Shah and Nayeem Khan.
Top Kashmiri separatist leaders, including Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, were on Thursday put under house arrest only to be released within hours in actions that were linked to their proposed meeting with Pakistani National Security Advisor Sartaj Aziz in Delhi on Sunday.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances