BY || NEYAZ ELAHI | KNO
Yawar Mir joined militant ranks during 2016 unrest after the killing of Hizbul Mujhadeen commander Burhan Wani. He was 17 years old and had studied at Darul Uloom Bilalia here in Kashmir capital Srinagar and left it after becoming Hafiz-e-Quran. According to his family members, Yawar offered his service as Imam in a local Masjid in Hazratbal area of Srinagar city before joining militant outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba. Bashir Ahmed Mir, his father is a Forester posted in District Kulgam. “I tried to persuade him a lot but categorically refused to return. I was helpless and didn’t insist further because he was so much religious who never missed his prayers,” Mir said. Yawar, a native of Hablish village in South Kashmir is survived by parents, 3 sisters and 2 brothers. Yawar according to police was affiliated with a group that was active in twin districts of Kulgam and Anantnag. This group was led by Furqan, a non-local militant who according to police was involved in a number of incidents, the “prominent being the Yatra bus attack case at Batingo, attack at Lower Munda and also on police party at bus stand Anantnag in South Kashmir.”