Mufti Sayeed buried in Bijbehara

Srinagar: Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, who passed away at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi today morning, was laid to rest with full state honours at his hometown of Bijbehara, here this evening.

With tearful eyes, an unending sea of mourners who had congregated from today morning at his birth-place, paid last respects to their beloved leader, after which he was buried in the Dara Shikoh Bagh, said an official handout.

Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s body was flown this afternoon from New Delhi to Srinagar in an IAF plane.

Accompanied by several Central Ministers, Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, arrived at the New Delhi Airport and laid a wreath on the mortal remains of the departed leader. He met PDP President, Mehbooba Mufti, who was by the side of her father for the last 14 days and offered condolences.

There was an outpouring of grief across Jammu & Kashmir today as people mourned the late chief minister, whose funeral cavalcade snaked its way through surging crowds from his official residence at Gupkar to the Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium where a huge gathering of people offered Namaz-e-Jinaaza, led by Naeem Akhtar.

A ceremonial Guard-of-Honour was also given as a mark of respect to the departed leader.

Besides, Governor, N. N. Vohra and Union Home Minister, Rajnath Singh, former Chief Ministers, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Omar Abdullah, senior political leaders across party lines and officers of the State government also attended the funeral of the Chief Minister.

The mortal remains of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed were later carried to his hometown of Bijbehera for burial.

Late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had taken oath as Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir for a second term on March 01, 2015.

The state has declared seven-day mourning as a mark of respect to the departed leader. All State government offices and educational institutions in the State remained closed today.

National and State flags will be flown at half-mast during the period of mourning on all buildings and places where these are flown.