New Delhi: In a late-night development, Jammu and Kashmir government released senior separatist leader and former Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani on parole considering his health conditions, official sources said on February 8.

This follows consultations between Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani during the Chief Ministers' Conference on Internal Security.

The order was signed late evening by Financial Commissioner (Home) S D Singh after Sayeed apprised the Centre of Geelani's health condition and got its nod for his release on parole, the sources said.

The former Hurriyat chairman who is currently undergoing treatment at Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai will be operated upon on February 10.

The sources said on the request of Geelani, the state government has deputed Dr Khurshid Iqbal Kousger to assist Mumbai doctors in the operation of his left kidney.

Geelani was arrested last year under Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) and Public Safety Act for alleged funding of militant outfits in Jammu and Kashmir. He was taken to Birsamunda jail at Ranchi from where he was flown by a state aircraft to Mumbai for specialised treatment.

PTI