Kulgam mourns death of Hizb militant,Thousands join funeral procession

Kulgam, March 7: Amid shutdown and clashes thousands of people participated in the last rites of Hizbul Mujhadeen militant Dawood Ahmed Sheikh while mourners offered six back to back funeral prayers in favour of the slain militant.
Dawood Ahmed Sheikh, 21 was killed in a gun battle with Government Forces at Buchroo hamlet of South Kahsmir’s Kulgam district. He was laid to rest at martyr’s grave yard in Reshipora Qaimou while thousands of people including women participated in his funeral procession.
To mourn the death of the militant the district observed a complete shutdown.All the shops and other business establishments remained shut in main town Kulgam, Quimoo ,Khudwani , Yaripora, Bogam and other adjoining areas of the district. Traffic was also off the roads across the southern Kashmir district.
Eyewitnesses told that people defied restrictions and rushed to Qaimou to participate in funeral prayers of the slain militants. His body was carried to the graveyard in a huge procession amid pro-freedom and anti-India slogans. Due to huge number of people, funeral prayers were offered at least six times. Witnesses added that at least four armed militants appeared in Qaimou area to participate in the last rites of their associate. However, they were encircled by large number of people while majority of them started hugging them forcing them to retreat from the area.
Shortly after the culmination of the last rites, agitated people clashed with government forces resulting in the injuries of at least 7 protesters. Witnesses said that one of the protesters received pellet injuries. The injured were shifted to nearby hospitals. Police according to locals resorted to tear-gas shelling to disperse pro-freedom protesters.
A police official said that protesters attacked Paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel stationed inside SKUAST’s Rice Research Institute at Khudwani. In order to disperse them, the forces used some tear-smoke shells. Reports said that amid heavy presence of government forces, clashes continued for hours in Khudwani and Qaimou areas of the district.