Wednesday, February 23 2005 11:14 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Two weeks after he was shot at, Delhi University lecturer S A R Geelani was discharged from hospital yesterday (Feb 22, 2005) and he accused Delhi Police of harassing his family members and associates while investigating the case.

Geelani, who was admitted to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) after the murderous assault on him outside the house of his lawyer Nandita Haksar in Vasant Enclave on February 8, left the hospital in a wheel chair at around 15.30 hrs (IST).

Later, Geelani read out a short press statement outside Haksar's house, accusing police of harassing his family and friends and making insinuations against them, but did not take any questions, as he was too weak.

"It is unfortunate that the police has been harassing my family members, friends, supporters and even students and colleagues of Zakir Hussain College. They have been making all kinds of insinuations against all of them, including my lawyer Nandita Haksar."

Geelani also said that he stood by his statement released to the media on February 14, in which he had said, "The only people who seem to be determined to harm me are the police in the special cell of Delhi Police."

"I do not understand why anyone wants to kill me," Geelani said yesterday. Unfortunately, such attempts on Kashmiris who are concerned about the future of the Kashmiri people are not rare. However, I do not think the Kashmir problem can be resolved by violence."

Claiming that he had been framed in the Parliament attack case and sentenced to death by a trial court, Geelani said, "On that occasion I told the media: 'By convicting innocents you cannot suppress feelings. Peace comes with justice. Without justice there will be no democracy, it is Indian democracy that is under threat'."

Geelani was later acquitted by the Delhi High Court, but the police have challenged the decision in the Supreme Court.

"Even now I do not know whether I will be finally acquitted by the Supreme Court (but) I think many democratic minded Indians shared my sentiments and that is why they have been fighting for my acquittal," he said.

Thanking the doctors and staff at AIIMS and those "who stood by me and also had the courage to speak out," Geelani said, "I still hope I will get justice because I firmly believe in democratic principles and norms."

While Geelani did not take any questions, the lawyer said his family members and associates were very concerned about his safety but had not ask for police protection.

"We haven't asked for police protection because these are the same people on whom we have suspicions (of carrying out the attack)," she said.

Haksar said that Geelani would stay at her house for two or three days before going "somewhere else". However, she did not disclose his likely destination.

As if to underline their perceived lack of security, Geelani's associates locked the gate of Haksar's house after he had read out the statement and she had answered the queries of media persons.