Mlitant killed in encounter, sister’s marriage festivities turn into mourning

Srinagar, Sep 11: Wedding celebrations turned into mourning for a family in Jammu and Kashmir after the bride’s brother, a militant, was killed in an encounter with security forces in the state’s Kupwara district on Tuesday.
Liyaqat Ahmad Lone was one of the two Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants killed in the encounter in Kupwara’s Handwara area this morning, police said.
The news of Lone’s death came as his sister’s wedding celebrations were underway at his house in Sopore town, family members said.
His sister was supposed to get married today. A large number of relatives and friends had gathered for the occasion, but as the news reached, a pall of gloom descended on the household, they said.
Lone went missing from his house and joined militant ranks earlier this year, the family members claimed.
The other militant killed in the encounter was identified as Furqan Rashid Lone alias Adil, a resident of Langate in Kupwara district’s Shartpora area, a police spokesman said.
He said Liyaqat Lone, alias Sahaba alias Umar Khalid, was a resident of Harwan area in Sopore town, he said.
Liyaqat’s body was handed over to the family late Tuesday afternoon, a police official said.