Militant who could not survive for ten days?
Shopian: Even after giving deaf ear to the home calling appeals, the militant who was killed in ArhamaShopian gunfight has survived only for ten days.
Yasir Ahmad Shah resident of ArhamaShopian had left home just 10 days before he was killed in an encounter along with his associate at GadaporaShopian on Friday.
According to his family, Yasir left home on March 12 for his routine work and didn’t return back. “We searched for him everywhere but failed to find him anywhere and later we filed a missing report at Police station Shopian,” they said.
They said they were not aware that he has joined militant ranks till Friday morning. “One of his friends divulged that Yasir is trapped at Gadapora and this news left all of us shocked,” they said.
Later in the evening, they were also called by the police to identity him so that his killing could be confirmed.
Before joining militant ranks, Yasir was working as a teacher in a local Islamic seminary and has also memorized about 27 paras of holy Quran, said his friend.
He was a religious person from very early age and was also following principles of Islam since childhood in letter and spirit, he said, adding that Yasir was not inclined towards militancy and was never arrested before.
He according to locals is survived by a brother and sister besides his parents.
Meanwhile, thousands of people today participated in his funeral prayers at old Eidgah in Arhama village.
Eyewitnesses said that in order to accommodate the heavy rush of people, at least five rounds of funeral prayers were held for the slain militant.
The participants during the funeral chanted pro-freedom and pro-militant slogans.
They said at least five militants appeared at his funeral and offered gun salute to pay tribute to their colleague.
As per locals, the funeral spot was just few hundred metres away from Army camp (12 sector paras) on one side and District Police Line on other side and presence of militants there was very much challenging.
Yasir was laid to rest in his native village amid pro-Pakistani, pro-militant and Pro-Islam slogans.
In Harmain also, tens of thousands of people also participated in the funeral of slain Showkat.
Eyewitnesses said that multiple funeral prayers were held before he was laid to rest in his native village amid anti India and pro Islam sloganeering.
At least four militants appeared at the funeral of slain militant and offered gun salute before rushing from the spot, they said.
Showkat was a former Special Police Officer (SPO) who decamped with rifle of his colleague from Police Station Shopian on 25 August last year.
Meanwhile, a complete shutdown was observed in Shopian district against the militant killings.
Eyewitnesses said that all the business establishments and shops were closed in the area while as traffic was also off the roads.
Moreover, the mobile internet services continued to remain snapped in the district. The services were snapped on Friday night in wake of the gunfight.