Shopian, January 23 (KNO) : Almost thirty funeral prayers were held for six militants that were killed in two different gun battles with government forces in Budgam and Shopian districts on Monday and Tuesday. In one of the funerals, militants also offered gun salute to their slain associate.
“There was massive peoples participation in Draggad and Shirmal villages of Shopian district, include at IPS officer’s brother Shamsul Haq, Amir Suhail and Shoiab,” they told KNO, adding that thousands participated at Lassipora and Nopora Payeen villages of Pulwama district to offer funeral prayers of Syed Rubaan, Sabzar Ahmad and Towseef Itoo who were killed in a gunfight on Monday at Hapatnar village of Budgam district.
Pro-freedom leader Syed Ali Geelani addressed the mourners telephonically at slain Shamsul Haq’s funeral. Haq was also cousin of another slain militant Zubair Ahmed Turray, who was killed during a gunfight in April last year.
According to locals for slain militant Shoib Shah only, ten funeral prayers were offered. Multiple funeral prayers were offered to Haq, Amir and Shoib. “In Shoib Shah’s funeral, his associate appeared and offered gun salute,” locals claimed.
They claimed that the militant who offered gun salute had managed to escape from gunfight in which Shoib and two others were killed. Residents identified him as Aabid Manzoor Magray from Nowpora Payeen and claimed that when he appeared in Shah’s funeral he was injured, probably while escaping.
Militants also appeared at the funeral of Syed Ruban at Nazneenpora and offered a gun-salute. Ruban was killed in Hapatnar area of Budgam along with two associates.Multiple funeral prayers were offered for Sabzar Ahmad and Touseef Ahmad Itoo who were killed in a gunfight with the forces at Hapatnar in Charar-e-Sharif on Monday.
The twin districts of Shopian and Pulwama are also observing a complete shutdown to protest and mourn the killings of six militants.Reports said that all the shops and business establishments are shut in the twin districts and traffic is mostly off the roads.(KNO)