Thousands join funerals of militants, civilians injured in clashes

Srinagar, Nov 23: Five of the six militants killed in Anantnag gunfight were buried in their respective ancestral graveyards while at least 15 persons were injured in clashes with government forces in parts of Anantnag and Pulwama districts of south Kashmir, on Friday.
Reports said the stone pelting clashes erupted at Bijbehara, SK Colony Anantnag, Pulwama, Saraf Kadal, Nowhatta, following the killing of six militants in a gunfight with government forces at Bijbehara, Anantnag.
Police and paramilitary forces deployed in strength in these areas used tear smoke shells, pellets and some live ammunition to disperse the protesters.
In government forces’ action at Bijbehara, a youth Umer Nazir, 22, received bullet injuries in his right arm. He was immediately taken to a nearby hospital wherefrom he was referred to Bones and Joints hospital, Barzulla, Srinagar.
Among the six slain militants, five – Azad Ahmad Malik of Arwani Bijbehara, Unais Shafi of Takiya Maqbool Shah Bijbehara, Basit Ishtiyaq of Pushwara Anantnag, Atif Najar of Waghama Bijbehara and Shahid Bashir of Kawni Awantipora – were buried at their respective villages. Thousands of people attended their funeral.
Meanwhile, parts of Anantnag including Bijbehara and Pulwama shut down spontaneously to mourn the death of the militants.
Following the killing, authorities snapped internet services in Bijbehara, Anantnag and Pulwama parts as part of established norms by authorities in the State. Train services to and fro south Kashmir was suspended.