Unwell Geelani denied medical aid: family

"He is ill and has become very weak," Geelani's younger son Naseem Geelani told The Indian Express. "He (Geelani) should be immediately shifted to Srinagar so that the family can take care of him".  

Naseem said despite being advised a regular and long morning or evening walk by the doctors, Geelani is not allowed to move out of his residence. "He has undergone eight surgeries. He is suffering from chronic bronchitis, prostrate problem, eye problem and is on a pacemaker," Geelani's son said. "As such doctors have advised him a long walk at least once a day. But since he is not allowed to move out of his house, he has grown weak."

Geelani's son said the family has no direct contact with him and they are informed about his health through indirect messages. "He is not being allowed even to use a cell phone," Naseem said. "Our sister, who is putting up in Delhi occasionally visits him and informs us about his health. Our mother who is also there is unwell too".

Geelani, who is in Delhi, was put under a strict house arrest immediately after the hanging of Parliament attack-convict Afzal Guru in Tihar jail on February 9. Soon after the hanging, a posse of Geelani arrived at Geelani's Malviya Nagar residence and put him under house arrest. The family says police snatched his cell phones and do not allow anyone in or out of the house. The family also says the personnel of Delhi Police have intruded into Geelani's privacy and stay in the home.

On Monday, National Conference parliamentarian Ghulam Nabi Ratanpuri was the first person to meet Geelani at his Malviya Nagar residence after he was denied permission to meet him on Sunday. Ratanpuri, who was allowed to meet and talk to Geelani in presence of a police officer, also expressed his apprehensions about Geelani's health.

In fact, Ratanpuri on Tuesday said that he met the Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and apprised him about the health f the separatist leader.

  "(I) met Health Minister Azad sahab and Home Minister Shinde ji and conveyed to them the concerns of family and followers of Geelani  sahib about his health," Ratanpuri said. "Azad  sahib assured all that may be required to keep Geelani  sahib  in good health will be done. Shinde ji, in my presence, directed the concerned to depute a team of doctors including one Kashmiri cardiologist to conduct his proper medical checkup".

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