Srinagar, Dec 28: An MBA graduate turned militant was killed in a brief shootout in Banderpora area of south Kashmir’s Awantiporatown on Friday.
A police spokesperson said that based on credible inputs about the presence of militants in the area, a cordon and search operation was launched jointly by police and army in the morning hours.
“As the searches were going on, the search party was fired upon by the militants. The fire was retaliated leading to a gunfight,” said the spokesperson.
“In the ensuing encounter, one militant identified as Ishfaq Yousuf Wani son of Mohammad Yousuf Wani resident of Koil Pulwama was killed,” he said.
An MBA graduate, Wani had joined militant ranks in July this year. He was affiliated with Hizbul Mujahideen outfit.
His funeral prayer was offered at his native village Koil.
Mourners in thousands participated in his last rites on Friday afternoon.
Reports said that people from various districts of the south Kashmir including elderly persons arrived in the village and participated in funeral prayers of the slain militant.
An eyewitness said that as the body of the slain was lifted for burial amid pro-freedom slogans, emotional scenes were witnessed from the spot.
In response to the killing, Pulwama district observed a complete shutdown and internet services too were suspended in the area.
