Srinagar : Pro-freedom leader Syed Ali Geelani addressed the funeral of slain Lashkar-e-Toiba militant Ashiq Hussain Bhat, whose dead body was recovered from an apple orchard in Shopian on Monday morning, telephonically from his Hyderpora, Srinagar resident where he has been put under house detention. “We must not get disappointed. We must follow Islam in letter and spirit and boycott all Indian sponsored elections,” Geelani told the gathering over the phone. He also said that “sacrifices won’t go waste for the dawn of freedom shall arrive one day”.
Ashiq was killed in Pahnoo village of Shopian along with another Lashkar militant Amir Malik on Sunday evening in a brief shoot-out.Four civilians were also killed by the Army in the shootout. An Army spokesman said on Sunday that three civilians were accompanying a Lashkar militant Amir Malik and all were killed in a brief shootout at Pahnoo, Shopian. On Monday morning, another dead body of a civilian was recovered from the spot.
The locals, however, rejected the Army claim and said that the youth had no connection with the militant. They identified the four civilians as Suhail Ahmad Wagay (22) son Khalid Ahmad Wagay of Pinjora, Shahid Khan (21) son of Bashir Khan of Malik Gund and Shahnawaz Wagay (23) son of Ali Mohammad of Moolu, Trenz and Gowhar Ahmad Lone (24) of Trenz.(KN)