Communication networks were shut down and separatist leaders placed under house arrest, hours before the Central government revoked provisions of Article 370 of the constitution which conferred special status to the state of Jammu & Kashmir. In this backdrop, a video of hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani has been shared on social media.
دروازہ کھولو۔۔
ہم کہیں اُڑ تھوڑی جائیں گے۔۔
دروازہ کھولو۔۔
تمھاری جمہوریت کا جنازہ نکل رہا ہے۔۔
دروازہ کھولو۔۔
نظر بند سید علی گیلانی کا بھارتی فوجیوں سے مکالمہ۔۔ pic.twitter.com/qwNmoFRvtt— Irshad Bhatti (@IrshadBhatti336) August 4, 2019
The above tweet has been retweeted over 9000 times and ‘liked’ over 19,000 times since it was tweeted on August 4, 2019. In the 45 second video clip, Geelani can be heard pleading behind a closed door. “Please open the door. The funeral procession of India’s democracy is underway.” (translated). The same has been reiterated in the message accompanying the video.
VIDEO FROM 2018
Alt News reverse-searched one of the key frames of the video with the key words ‘Geelani house arrest’, and found an Instagram post of April 2018, with the same video. The post also had a reference to Shopian, in J&K.
The video pertained to a crackdown by Indian security forces in Kashmir in April 2018. According to reports, Separatists Geelani, Mirwaiz and JKLF chief Yasin Malik had called for a march to Shopian following three encounters between terrorists and security forces in the valley, in which two civilians were killed. The leaders were placed under house arrest before the march could commence.
Alt News found the same video posted on Twitter by a handle @WithKashmir_, on April 4, 2018.
“Open the doors, I’m trying to attend the funeral of your democracy,” says Syed Ali Shah Geelani who was put under house-arrest again. #Kashmir pic.twitter.com/x4lQddD76Q
— With Kashmir (@WithKashmir_) April 4, 2018
In conclusion, the video of Syed Ali Shah Geelani under house arrest, is of April 2018 and not related to the recent crackdown in the valley.
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