Thousands participated in funeral procession
SRINAGAR: Journalists were barred from covering the funerals of three militants who were killed in an encounter with security forces in North Kashmir area of Baramulla yesterday.
In order to prevent people and journalists to reach Khanpora to prevent them from reaching the funeral of Lashkar commander Suhaib Akhoon, forces had sealed the area bridge. According to reports that a few journalists managed to reach Khanpora where the funeral was held for Akhoon by using boats to cross the Jhelum River.
Meanwhile several journalists from Srinagar were asked to return to the capital city by the police. Restrictions were placed on the movement of mourners to limit the funeral gatherings. Journalists said that the Station House Officer Baramulla ensured that the journalists did not cover the funeral. “We were stopped at Khanpora near pandit mandir and asked to go back,” he said.
Meanwhile a photojournalist Bilal Bahadur has suffered grievous injuries while covering the funeral prayers of two slain militants in Old Town Baramulla.
Bahadur, reports said, fell down from a truck that he had mounted on to click the pictures of the funeral. Khan said that Bahadur has suffered severe injuries and has been rushed to district hospital Baramulla for treatment.
Despite restrictions, thousands managed to attend the last rites of the killed militants. Internet remained suspended for the second consecutive day in the district while restrictions were placed on the movement of people, especially mourners.
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti had said that stopping the crowd to participate in the funeral prayer of a local militant was an interference in the religious affairs that would lead to further anger and alienation.
Calling the use of force on mourners during the funeral procession of Zeenat as “un-Islamic and undemocratic”, Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq had said the ‘forces action’ was ‘contrary to the human values.’
Meanwhile thousands participated in the funerals of the three militants killed in a gunfight in Baramulla. Reports said that the forces had sealed several roads in Khanpora and Old town areas to limit the number of mourners.
Despite the restrictions, reports said, a huge number of men and women gathered in the funeral prayers of Akhoon in Khanpora area. In Old town Baramulla, thousands of people marched with the bodies of Mosin Mushtaq of Qazi Hamam and Nisar Darzi of Jamia Mohalla. The mourners were raising pro-freedom slogans as they marched with the bodies of the duo.
A spontaneous shutdown is being observed in the district to mourn the killings. (PTK)
