Shopian shootout: Slain teen laid to rest

Srinagar, May 03: Thousands of men and women on Thursday morning gathered to attend the funeral of Umer Kumar in Shopian’s Pinjura area.
Locals said that the parents of the 14 year old boy insisted that Umer be laid to rest in School clothes and not wrapped in any flag.
Thousands of people from nearby districts reached Pinjura amid grief and mourning to attend the last rites of the slain youth.
Among pro Freedom and Pro Islam slogans, Umer was finally laid to rest, Locals said.
Umer Kumar son of Mohammed Abdullah Kumar aged 14 was shot dead by government forces on Thursday during clashes that erupted in Turkwangam during an encounter.
Reports said that thousand people poured onto streets as the body of a slain boy were lifted the scenes were poignant amid the chanting of pro-freedom slogans, hailing the “martyr.”
Reports also said that women and children especially his classmates showered toffees and flowers on Umar’s body.
A complete shutdown was observed in Pulwama and Shopian towns of south Kashmir on Thursday to mourn the killing of a civilian, reports said.
Apart from the one casualty, over 25 protesters sustained injuries while trying to disrupt the operation of the force against militants.
All the shops, business establishments and schools remain closed for the fourth consecutive day in district Pulwama and Shopian.
Sources said that heavy contingents of government forces were deployed at sensitive locations in the districts to maintain law and order.