Syed Ali Shah Geelani operated upon in Mumbai

Srinagar, Mar 26: Ailing firebrand Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani was today operated upon at Mumbai's Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital where he had been admitted following deterioration in his health condition due to kidney malignancy.

Breakaway Hurriyat Conference spokesman Ayaz Akbar said here that a team of medicos, led by Dr Hemant B Tondgaonkar, performed the kidney surgery on Mr Geelani.

''The operation has been successful,'' he said, quoting Mr Altaf Ahmed Shah, the son-in-law of the hardliner.

The doctors started the procedure of removing the mass on the kidney, which had been badly damaged by cancer, at 0900 hrs and the entire operation lasted five hours, he added.

Mr Akbar said Dr Tondgaonkar expressed the hope that the breakaway Hurriyat Conference chairman would recover fast.

However, the doctors have said the next 48 hours were crucial for the ailing leader and he has been put under strict observation in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital.

Mr Akbar said the doctors have opined that the separatist leader would have to take extra precautionary measures after the surgery.

Meanwhile, the spokesman said acting chairman of the breakaway Hurriyat Conference Ghulam Nabi Sumjhi and Muslim League leader Masarat Alam Bhat would leave for Mumbai on March 28 to enquire about the health condition of Mr Geelani following the operation.

UNI