Foreigner among four JeM militants killed in Pulwama
Thousands attend funeral prayers, six protestors injured
Pulwama: Four militants affiliated with Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) were killed in an encounter that raged between forces and militants in Pulwama village of Southern Kashmir in the wee hours of Saturday morning.
Officials said that the gunfight broke out in Hanjan village of Pulwama district after a joint team of forces including Army’s 44 Rashtriya Rifles, CRPF’s 182, 183 Battalions and Special Operations Group of Jammu and Kashmir police launched a cordon and search operation in the village following credible inputs about the presence of militants in the area.
“As the cordon was being launched around the suspected house, the hiding militants fired on the government forces triggering a gunfight. Four militants belonging to JeM outfit were killed in the encounter,” a police official said, identifying the four militants as MuzamilNabi Dar of Rohmoo, MuzamilNazirBhat of Prichoo, WaseemAkramWani of Tikken and a non-local Haris.
“As encounter was going on in the area, youth from different areas assembled near encounter site and started pelting stones on government forces which was retaliated by firing tear smoke shells which resulted in injuries to about one dozen persons,” witnesses said.
In wake of the gunfight, mobile internet services were also suspended in Pulwama district. A complete shutdown was observed in Pulwama and its adjacent areas against the militant killings.
Notably, one among the slain militants WaseemAkramWani, son of Mohammad AkramWani of TikenPulwama as per locals was active since 8 July 2017. Belonging to an economically weak family, Waseem before joining militant ranks was a student of B.A 1st semester at Government Degree College Pulwama, one of his friends said.
He was a pious boy since his childhood and was offering five time prayers since his childhood. Waseem was known as Molvi among his friends for his pro-Islamic activities, his friend said, adding that Waseem was never arrested before joining militancy but was inclined towards militancy.
Waseem has left behind two brothers besides parents.
Meanwhile, thousands of people participated in his funeral prayers and he was laid to rest in his native village after multiple funeral prayers amid pro freedom slogans.
Another slain militant MuzamilNabi Dar, son of GhulamNabi Dar of RohmooPulwama as per his relatives left home on the day when popular Hizb commander SadamPadder along with his four associates including Dr Rafi were killed.
Belonging to a poor family, Muzamil before joining was a BCA student at GDC Pulwama and according to his family members he was never arrested by forces before he joined the militant ranks.
“We were never expecting this step from him as he never showed any inclination towards militancy,” they said, adding that he has left behind a brother who is a driver by profession besides his parents.
Thousands of people also participated in his funeral prayers following which he was laid to rest in his native village Rohmoo amid pro-militant and pro-Pakistani slogans.
MuzamilNazir, son of Nazir Ahmad of Prichoo, a school dropout had joined militant ranks before three months. His father addressed the people at fruit MandiPrichoo who had came there to participate in funeral prayers.
In his address, Nazir thanked people who had sheltered his son during the three months when he was active and asked to forgive him if he may have on any day misbehaved with anyone. Muzamil as per locals is survived by a brother and sister besides, his parents.
Like his two associates, thousands of people also participated in his funeral prayers which were held in Fruit MandiPrichoo.
After multiple funeral prayers, he was laid to rest in his native area amid pro-freedom and anti-India slogans.
Jahangeer Ganaie
