Thousands bid adieu to five slain militants in Kulgam
Amid tears, sobs, thousands participate in their last rites
Kulgam: Thousands of people on Monday participated in the funeral prayers of five slain militants who were killed in an encounter with government forces in Kellam area of Kulgam on Sunday.
In Qaimoh, thousands of people attended the funeral of slain Parvaiz who was laid to rest a massive funeral prayer on Sunday late evening. Witnesses said that chanting pro-freedom slogans, thousands of people including women and children attended the last rites of Parvaiz.
He according to official sources had joined militant ranks in July last year. Parvez was the first who was associated with ISJK and later switched to Hizb-ul-Mujhaideen.
Belonging to a middle class family and a student of local higher secondary, Parvez was arrested once and kept in police custody for about 15 days over stone pelting charges before he joined militant ranks, said Parvaiz’s friend.
Parvaiz is survived by three sisters and one brother besides his parents.
In Ashmuji, thousands participated in three back to back funeral of slain Dr. Waseem who was laid to rest on Sunday late evening.
DrWaseem Bashir Rather of AshmujiKulgam who according to locals was pursuing PHD in English outside Kashmir left home soon after one of his friends and neighbou, Adil Ahmad was killed during clashes in BadigamShopian where five militants including Saddam Padder and Dr Rafi were killed in May last year.
“He was very intelligent and very good in studies besides having vast knowledge of Islam. He was living a normal life and never participated in protests upto 2016 agitation,” said one of his friends.
However, during 2016 agitation, he was leading peaceful protests in the area and the surcharged atmosphere during that period brought a change in him.
Apart from pursuing a doctorate, he was also working as a teacher in a private school in DH Pora area of Kulgam, he said, adding that he was never arrested by forces before joining militant ranks.
Belonging to a middle class family, Waseem is survived by two elder brothers, grandfather besides his parents.
His father is a retired forest employee while as his one brother was working as special police officer however, last year he resigned from police service.
In Zangalpora, thousands participated in multiple funeral of AaqibNazir, who was laid to rest on Monday afternoon.
Eye-witnesses said that he was laid to rest amid pro-militant and pro-Islam slogans in presence of thousands of people.
Aaqib according to his friend after clearing his 10th class was studying in a religious seminary where from he memorized whole Quran before joining the militant ranks.
He was never arrested before he joined militant ranks and he was not inclined towards militancy however, we were surprised when he joined militant ranks last year, said his friend wishing not to be named.
He is survived by a brother besides his parents and belongs to a poor family as his father is running a small tea stall opposite the degree college in PahlooKulgam.
In Gopalpora DH Pora also, thousands of people participated in funeral of slain Zahid Parry who was laid to rest on a Monday afternoon.
Eyewitnesses said that despite the mounds of accumulated snow in the area, thousands of people participated in funeral of slain Zahid.
Zahid according to his friends was a mechanic (repairing vehicles) before joining militant ranks last year and he was never arrested before he joined militant ranks. He is survived by a brother and sister besides his parents.
In Arwani, Idrees locally known as Gabru was laid to rest in martyrs graveyard at Arwani on Monday forenoon after multiple funeral prayers held in a local school ground.
He is survived by old aged parents, five sisters and a brother, who is living separately since last 10 years.
Jahangeer Ganaie
