Thousands attend militants’ funerals

Srinagar, Jan 01: Amid restrictions thousands of people participated in the last rites of two fidayeen local slain militants at their native villages of Drabgam and Nazneepora Tral here in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
The two fidayeen militants Manzoor Ahmed Baba of Drabgam and Fardeen Ahmed Khandey of Nazneenpora Tral were killed on Sunday when they resorted to an audacious attack on CRPF training centre at Lethpora killing five troopers wounding couple of them.
Reports said that authorities had sealed the entry and exit points leading towards the native villages of two fidayeen slain militants to prevent the flow of mourners.
Police handed over the bodies of both the militants to families during late hours on Sunday. Reports said that both the militants were laid to rest at their native villages amid pro-freedom and pro-Islamic slogans.
As per witnesses, people rushed towards these villages in vehicles were stopped by government forces and disallowed to enter into the villages.
“The movement of the people had been curbed and yet people took different routes to participate in the last rites of these two slain militants,” said an eyewitness.
A police official wishing anonymity said that restrictions had been imposed to stop militants from entering into these villages. “We had inputs that militants may appear in crowd and to stop them, restrictions were put in place,” he added.
Earlier, a youth whom locals identified as Munir Ahmed Dar, a resident of Tahab was injured after he was hit by a bullet during clashes at Drabgam.
There were massive clashes between protesters and the government forces at Drabgam. Forces used tear-smoke shells to disperse the protesting youth who resorted to massive stone-pelting. Witnesses said that as the protesters didn’t budge, Forces fired some rounds. A youth suffered bullet injury who was shifted to Srinagar hospital for treatment.
Reports said that clashes erupted in native Tahab area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district after the news about Muneer getting injured in Drabgam village spread there.
Scores of youth hit to roads and pelted stones on 182 Battalion CRPF camp. The trooper lobbed tear-smoke shells to disperse the protesters.
Meanwhile, the twin districts of Pulwama and Shopian observed a complete shutdown against the killing of two fidayeen militants.
All the shops and business establishments remained shut and transport was seen off the roads. Shutdown was also observed in Tral town of the district