Both Waseem Malla and Naseer Ahmad Pandit made headlines when they featured alongside HM commander Burhan Wani in a group picture. In less than 36 hours after Bilal Ahmad Bhat of Karimabad was killed in an encounter, Waseem and Naseer were gunned down by forces in early Thursday morning gunfight in restive Vehil, Shopian. Kashmir Life’s Bilal Bahadur hitched a ride to capture two funerals and the emotions
It was dawn and faithful were on way home in restive Vehil hamlet in South Kashmir’s Shopian when they heard gun shots. In an hour long encounter, Army claimed that two Hizbul Mujahideen militants are dead on Thursday.
Eldest amongst his siblings, Naseer Ahmad Pandit, fled the residence of PDP MLA Amira Kadal in 2015. Within a few days, he had joined rebel ranks. He is survived by two brothers and sisters each, mother and father.
The word of mouth spread and people rushed in groups to take custody of the bodies. It was emotional. Thus played the traditional elegies in honour of the slain militant-duo.
A resident of Pehlipora Shopian, Waseem Ahmad Malla has been active since long. People offered funeral prayers of the rebel in the same Ranbiara Nallah which is infamous for 2009 Asiya-Neelofar rape and murder case.
As the body of slain Naseer reached his Karimabad home in Pulwama, people were waiting and “21 gun salutes” were offered. Witnesses said that it created chaos as scores of gun shots were heard. Of late, the militant funerals have witnessed “21 gun salutes” being given.
