New Delhi, Apr 25: The Jammu and Kashmir government has borne the entire expenditure for the treatment of separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who is returning to the Valley tomorrow, at the Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital following the intervention by National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). NHRC, which received a complaint from the secretary general of Jammat-e-Islami alleging ill-treatment to the ailing Geelani, who had been detained in Central Jail in Ranchi, had issued a notice to the Centre and the state government to ascertain the facts.

The complaint alleged that Geelani had developed many serious ailments during his detention and adequate medical facilities had not been made available to him. Following this, NHRC secretary general P C Sen wrote to the Union home secretary and chief secretary of Jammu and Kashmir government.

The commission was then informed that Geelani, who was diagnosed with cancer in his left kidney, was shifted to Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital in Mumbai for treatment and that the entire expenditure was borne by the state government at the hospital. Geelani was arrested on June 9, 2002 from Hyderpora and taken to Ranchi Jail in Jharkhand where he was in solitary confinement during which his health deteriorated. Later, Mufti government decided to release him and Geelani was operated upon in February, 2003 in Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital.

Geelani was then shifted to All India Institute of Medical Sciences on February 27 where he was under observation. The separatist leaders is returning tomorrow to the Kashmir Valley.

Bureau Report