Fighters laid to rest in south Kashmir, thousands attend funerals

Pulwama: Thousands of people today participated in the the funeral prayers of two fightes, who were killed in a gunfight with government forces on Monday.

Since early morning, hundreds of people from Gadoora, Newa, Eshmandur, Wahibug, Zadoora, Gusoo, Loswani and other adjoining areas assembled in Karimabad, the native village of Hizb militant Afaq Ullah Bhat, who aong with his associate Abdul Manan Dar was killed in an encounter in Drabgam area of Rajpora in Shopian, witnesses told Kashmir Reader, witnesses said.

According to "Kashmir Reader" Shouting slogans “We want freedom,” “Afaq your blood will bring revolution,” “Salam-O-Martyr,” , the mourners carried the body of the slain militant in a procession that passed through different localities before reaching martyrs graveyard where he was laid to rest. Senior Hurriyat leader Farooq Andrabi addressed the mourners.

By the time Afaq’s funeral was held, hundreds of people had converged in Amarbug village of the neighboring Shopian to attend Nimaz-e-Janaz of Abdul Manan Dar, witnesses said.

He too was carried in a procession to martyrs graveyard and laid to rest amidst pro-freedom and anti-India sloganeering by mourners.

“Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani addressed the mourners and asked them to safeguard the sacrifices rendered by the people in the ongoing freedom struggle,” they added.