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Shutdown in Pulwama, Shopian over killing of militants

ESS AHMAD. Dated: 1/24/2019 10:46:37 AM

ANANTNAG, Jan 23: A complete shutdown was observed today observed in twin districts of Pulwama and Shopian districts over the killing of militants.
Shops and other business establishments remained closed. Transport was also off the roads.
Mobile internet services remained snapped for second running day in the two districts. However some reports suggested that internet services were restored in Pulwama district late evening.
Meanwhile, amid cold weather conditions, thousands of people today visited the six neighbouring villages of Pulwama and Shopian districts to offer funeral prayers and bury the six militants killed in two separate gun fights in Budgam and Shopian districts in last two days.
Three militants belonging to Al Badr militant outfit were killed in a gunfight with forces after they were trapped in an underground hideout in Hapatnard area of central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Monday.
Though there was confusion over the identity of the trio till late Monday night , however, two of them after a day-long confusion turned out to be the residents of Pulwama and one as the native of Shopian. They were identified as Sabzar Ahmad Mir of Lassipora Pulwama, Syed Raban of Nazbeenpora Shopian and Towseef Ahmad Mir of Nowpora Pulwama. As their bodies were yet to arrive at their residences, three more local militants belonging to largest militant outfit, Hizb-ul-Mujahideen were killed in another encounter in Shirmal village of Shopian. One of the three slain militants identied as Shams-ul-Haq was the brother of 2012 batch IPS officer Inam-ul-Haq and cousin of former Hurriyat activist turned militant, Zubair Ahmad Turray.
Braving cold tens of thousands of people from dozens of villages of two districts since early morning marched towards the native places of the six slain to participate in their last rites.
Witnesses said at least five rounds of funeral prayers were held for each of the slain to accommodate the huge rush of mourners.
Hurriyat (G) chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, also addressed the funeral gathering of one of the slain Shams-ul-Haq in Dragad village of Shopian. Geelani, according to some participants, urged the people to respect the sacred blood of the youngsters who are sacrificing their lives for the future of these nations. Geelani in his address also urged the people to stay away from the upcoming polls.
In Nazneenpora village of Shopian, witnesses said, a group of militants appeared at the funeral venue and fired several shots in air to salute the slain militant, Syed Raban.
In Chiddipora, the native village of one of the slain, witnesses said, angry youth after the conclusion of funeral prayers attacked the nearby army camp with stones. Witnesses said army men after facing stones resorted to aerial firing to drive away the stone throwing youth.