KL Report
SRINAGAR
Several areas in South and Central Kashmir district observed shutdown on Friday against the killing of five militants in an encounter with Government Forces on Thursday.
In a fierce gun battle, five top Jaish-e-Muhammad militants were killed in Gadder Forest in Kellar area of South Kashmir’s Shopian district on Thursday. Three slain militants were hailing from South Kashmir while one militant belonged to Central Kashmir’s Budgam district.
The areas which observed the spontaneous strike include Kellar, Aglar, Kandi, Rajpora, Dalwan, Abhama, Drabgam, Achagoza, Bamnu, Chak Badrinath, Pakharpora, Qadipora, Chraripora, Mohandpora, Khaigam, Qamrazipora, Rohumu, and other adjoining areas. Shops and business establishments were closed while traffic was off the roads.
Reports said anti-India and pro-freedom protests rocked the Rajpora and Keller areas of Pulwama district while protests also erupted in Central Kashmir’s Pakharpora town. Protests were also held in the native villages of the slain militants soon after the Friday congregational prayers. Eyewitnesses told CNS that agitated youth tried to attack the CRPF post at Khaigam in Pakharpora, however, police used tear-smoke shells to disperse them. The protestors also hurled stones on the private vehicle (JK028-5045) of a political workers and smashed its windowpanes.
Hundreds of people including the separatist leaders like Javid Ahmed Mir and Zafar Akbar Bhat visited the graves and native villages of the militants and offered sympathies to the bereaved families. Reports said that one among the five slain militants who was a Pakistani national was laid to rest along with his associate Shakeel Ahmed Wani at Pakharpora where hundreds of mourners participated in his last rites. The rest of the militants were laid to rest at their native places.
