Pulwama shuts against militants killing
A spontaneous shutdown was observed in Pulwama district against the killing of Lashkar-e-Toiba District commander Ayub Lelhari who was killed in an brief gunfight with forces on Wednesday afternoon.
Shops and other commercial establishments were closed in the district while public transport was off the roads, reports said.
Lelhari was buried in the ‘Martyrs graveyard’ of his native village, Lelhar Thursday forenoon and his funerals were attended by thousands of people which converged from nearby areas.
Clashes between protesters and government forces erupted in Kakapora Tehsil after the funeral prayers of the slain militant.
Meanwhile, authorities had deployed heavy contingents of Police and para military CRPF in the area to thwart protests and clashes. The main entry to Lelhar through Kakapora was sealed, but witnesses said that people took alternate routes to reach Lelhar participate in the funeral of slain Ayoub. They said thousands of people participated in his funeral.
Train service were again been suspended on Srinagar-Banihal track via south Kashmir for “security reasons” while trains moved in north Kashmir as per schedule, a senior Railway official said.
SSP Pulwama Choudhary Muhammad Aslam said that the situation in the district “remained under control and peaceful”, except minor stone pelting near Kakapora police post.
KV Correspondent
