Bijbehara Amid shutdown and clashes thousands of mourners, including women and children, participated in the funeral prayers of three local Hizb militants in Bijbehara on Tuesday.
Three militants Sartaj Ahmad Lone son of Ghulam Mohammad Lone resident of Wopzan, Bijbehara, Adil Ahmad Sheikh son of Fayaz Ahmad resident of Sheikh Mohalla, Bijbehara and Tanveer Ahamd Bhat son of Mubarak Ahmad Bhat resident of Baba Mohalla Bijbehara died in an encounter with Indian Army at Silgam Ashmuqam in South Kashmirs Anantnag district on Monday.
The bodies of the three were handed over by police to their families on Monday night. Reports said that thousands of people from Bijbehara and its adjacent localities, including Anantang town, Khodwani, Ashmuqam, Srigufwara, Salar, Kadipora rushed to the houses of bereaved families. Mourners amid pro-freedom and anti-India slogans offered funeral prayers at two places in the town. The funeral prayers of Adil and Tanveer who were laid to rest at martyrs graveyard Bijbehara were offered at Eidgah Bijbehara while SartaJ Ahmed, the youngest among the three slain militants was laid to rest at his ancestral graveyard at Wopzun after large number of people participated in his funeral procession.
Eyewitnesses said that the extensive military and police deployment around Bijbehara and adjoining areas failed to prevent thousands of mourners from joining the funerals.
Carrying black and green flags the mourners chanted pro-freedom and anti-India slogans throughout the two different funeral ceremonies.
Earlier, Hurriyat (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani addressed the mourners over telephone.
Geelani blamed the pro-India politicians for the death of the local militants. Pro-India politicians were responsible for strengthening the Indian occupation in Kashmir. They are responsible for the death and destruction in Kashmir. These people should understand that they are stabbing the back of their brethren. People who cast their votes and support the pro- India elements are committing the act of treason. Whenever we cast votes for these elements actually we enslave ourselves and the next generations, said Geelani.
The struggle would continue till the last Indian solider leaves Kashmir. We need to take care of these sacrifices and refrain from doing the activities that are detrimental for the interest of ongoing movement, he said, adding the youth of Kashmir would continue to resist the control of India.
Reports said that soon after the culmination of funeral procession, angry youth took to streets and attacked government forces with stones in main town Bijbehara. Police and CRPF according to eyewitnesses swung into action and resorted to heavy teargas shelling.
Reports said that the government forces resorted to aerial firing when the protesters continued to attack them with stones. The clashes between protesters and the government forces continued for hours resulting in the injuries to scores of people.
Meanwhile, a complete shutdown was observed in the district to mourn the death of these militants. All the shops and business establishments remained shut and transport did not ply on the roads. Reports said that roads wore a deserted look in South Kashmir and only the contingents of Government forces were seen present on the roads. (CNS)
Pak Flag Hoisted On Mufti House
The infuriated youth who participated in funeral procession of three slain Hizb militants Tuesday morning hoisted Pakistani national flag on the ancestral house of incumbent Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed.
Eyewitnesses said that as hundreds of people passed through the narrow lane of Baba Mohalla, Bijbehara to proceed towards the residence of slain militant Tanvir Ahmed Bhat, couple of youth amid pro-freedom slogans attacked the house of Chief Minister with stones while few youth made it to the top and hoisted a Pakistani green flag there.
Reports said that no family member of Chief Minister was present there as the house remains deserted.
Not a single security guard was spotted in the house at the time protesters walked past it, said an eyewitness.
Reports said that the Pakistani flag was later removed from the house by some PDP workers who happen to the neighbors of the Chief Minister.
Waving Pak Flags Not New Here: PDP
As a Pakistani flag was hoisted by youth on Chief Minister Mufti Mohmmad Sayeeds ancestral house in south Kashmirs Bijbehara town on Tuesday, the Minister for Youth Services and Sports Imran Ansari said that waving of the Pakistan flags and other flags is not new in Kashmir as it has happened here in the past too.
This was not the first time that the Pakistani flags were waved. These incidents have taken place in past as well. Many flags have been waved here at different times. Some people wave Pakistani flags, some Indian flags, some other flags, Imran Ansari said on the sidelines of his press conference which he addressed at his Srinagar residence.
He however said that if the law has been violated, then government will act on it. They can raise the flags on my house. They have raised the flag on Shiekh Abdullahs house. But yes, if anybody has violated the law, the government will take action against him, he added
Agitated youth today morning hoisted Pakistani flag on CM Mufti Sayeeds ancestral house in Baba Mohalla of Bijbehara in south Kashmirs Islamabad district.
Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now
Be Part of Quality Journalism |
Quality journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising revenues are falling fast. |
| ACT NOW |
| MONTHLY | Rs 100 | |
| YEARLY | Rs 1000 | |
| LIFETIME | Rs 10000 | |