Srinagar, March 16: Amid protests, thousands of people participated in the funeral prayers of two militants who were killed last night in a gunfight with government forces at Balhama area of Khanmoh in outskirts of Srinagar city.
The encounter ensued after a group of militants made an abortive bid to snatch a rifle of personal guard of BJP leader Mohammad Anwar Khan near Arsh medical institute in Balhama Khanmoh yesterday. The PSO identified as Bilal Ahmad suffered injuries in the incident.
Soon army, CRPF, and SOG rushed to the area and cordoned off the entire as they intensified the searches, the militants hiding in the area fired upon joint team ensuing a gunfight.
The Joint team last evening razed to rubble four residential houses where militants had taken shelter at Balhama after they attacked police party guarding the BJP leader, they said.
“Two houses belonging to Ghulam Mohammad Bhat and others to Mohammad Yousuf Bhat and Ghulam Mohiudin. The houses were damaged during the fierce gun battle between the two sides”.
Later, the forces during the search operation recovered two militant bodies from the debris, they said.
A police spokesman in a statement issued here said: “Forces following leads, cordoned off a cluster of houses at Balhama, wherein the hiding militants fired upon the forces. During the initial firing, a CRPF personnel sustained bullet injuries and was shifted to 92 Base Hospital for treatment. He is stated to be stable,” the spokesman said.
In the encounter, two militants were killed and their bodies along with as many AK- rifles and other incriminating materials were recovered. The militants have been identified by their families as Rasiq Nabi Bhat of Tral and Shabir Dar of Awantipora, the spokesman said.
“As per police records they had joined militancy last year in the month of March and August respectively,” the spokesman said.
The bodies were handed over to their legal heirs for last rites, the spokesman said.
As soon as bodies reached in their respective native villages at Awantipora and Tral, the people mostly youth who were already waiting for the bodies, shouted pro-freedom slogans at both the places.
Several rounds of funerals were offered for the slain militants and were laid to rest amid pro-independence and anti-government slogans.
Meanwhile, a complete spontaneous shutdown was observed in Pulwama, Pampore, Awantpora and Tral areas against the killings.
All shops and other business establishments remained closed in these areas.
The authorities have reduced the internet speed at Tral, Pampore and Awantipora areas yesterday, while as railway authorities suspended train service to south Kashmir.
Reports of clashes were received from Saraf Kadal, Kadlibal Pampore, Awantipora, Padgampora Bridge, Tral and Muran Chowk Pulwama. (GNS)