Clashes in Chidipora, militants offer gun salute to associates, Geelani addresses mourners, internet remains suspended in twin districts
Thousands of people on Wednesday participated in the multiple funerals of six militants including the brother of an IPS officer in Shopian and Pulwama districts in south Kashmir.
Three Hizbul Mujahideen militants—Shamsul Haq Mengnoo son of Mohammad Rafiq of Dragad Shopian, Aamir Suhail Bhat son of Abdul Aziz of Chidipora Chitragam Shopian, Shoaib Ahmad Shah son of Ghulam Rasool of Shermal Shopian – were killed in a gunfight with government forces in Shirmal area of Zainapora, yesterday.
Shamsul Haq had left studies at Bachelors of Unani Medicine and Surgery (BUMS) at government college here in Zakura campus and joined militant ranks in May last year. His elder brother, Inam-ul Haq, is a 2012-batch IPS officer and presently posted in North East.
Eyewitnesses said that a large number of people participated in funeral prayers of the slain militants at their respective villages.
At Chidipora, there were minor clashes between government forces and youth. The government forces fired few rounds in air but there were no reports about any injury to anyone.
Apart from them, funeral prayers were also offered for three militants of Al-Badar militant outfit— Sabzar Ahmad son of Ali Mohammad Mir of Lassipora Pulwama, Syed Rabani son of Mohammad Hussain of Nazneenpora Shopian and Towseef Ahmad Itoo son of Abdul Aziz of Nowpora Payeen Pulwama. The trio from Al-Badr were killed in Hapatalnar area in Budgam.
At Shoaib’s and Syed Rabani’s funerals at Shermal and Nazneenpora Shopian, some militants appeared and offered the gun salute to them, reports said.
Chairman of Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Geelani also addressed over telephone mourners who had assembled to offer funeral prayers of at Shamsul Haq Dragad Shopian
Reports said that multiple funerals were offered to the slain. Later the slain were laid to rest at their respective native places. A spontaneous shutdown continued on the second consecutive day in Shopian and Pulwama to mourn the killings. Shops and other business establishments are closed while traffic was off the road in the twin districts where internet also remained suspended by the authorities.