Took to arms in 2017, slain militants laid to rest in Pulwama villages
Shopian: After remaining active since 2017, the three slain militants killed in a gunfight with government forces in Keller area of Shopian district hailing from South Kashmir’s Pulwama district were on Thursday laid to rest at their native villages.
All the three slain militants had joined the militant ranks in 2017. Two among them had joined in October 2017 while as other had joined in June 2017.
The slain militants were identified as Aaqib Ahmad Dar, Basharat Ahmad Mir and Sajad Ahmad Khanday.
Aaqib Ahmad Dar, son of Abdul Ahad Dar resident of BhatnooraLassipora was a sumo driver before joining militant ranks in October 2017.
He was arrested several times over having links with militants where he was ‘brutally tortured’, which compelled him to join militancy, one of his relative said.
Three months after he was released from the custody last time, Aaqib left home following which his photograph brandishing a gun went viral on social media, he said, adding that his family members were thrashed and property was ransacked several times after he took to arms.
Aaqib was completely changed person after 2016 agitation and was following principles of Islam in letter and spirit since then, said his friend.
A school dropout and belonging to a middle-class family, Aaqib is survived by four brothers and two sisters besides his parents.
Meanwhile, thousands of people participated in his funeral prayers which were held in a local ground near the graveyard in Bhatnoora.
Eyewitness told ‘Kashmir Vision’ that thousands of men, women and children participated in his last rites and he was laid to rest in a local graveyard amid massive pro-freedom slogans.
Militants also appeared in his funeral and offered gun salute, they said.
Meanwhile, Basharat Ahmad Mir, son of Muhammad Rafiq of WasooraPulwama was laid to rest at his maternal home in Naira Pulwama.
Locals said that his father divorced her mother when Basharat was a child and later he was brought up by his maternal uncle.
Basharat was never arrested before and he left home in October 2017 and he announced his joining as his photo while carrying a gun went viral, they said, adding that after passing class 10th examinations, he was working at a nearby shop as salesman before joining the militant ranks.
Meanwhile, thousands of people also participated in his funeral prayers following which he was laid to rest after multiple funeral prayers amid massive pro-freedom slogans.
Sajad Ahmad Khanday, son of Muhammad Akbar Khanday of Bamnoo village of Pulwama who had joined militant ranks in June 2017 was also laid to rest amid pro-freedom slogans.
Belonging to a middle-class family, Sajad was never arrested before joining militant ranks. He according to locals was the lone surviving militant in the area and is survived by two brothers besides his parents
Sajad was killed along with his two associates in Keller of Shopian district in a nocturnal gunfight.
Meanwhile, a complete shutdown was observed in Pulwama and Shopian districts of South Kashmir.
Moreover, the mobile internet services were also snapped in both the districts in wake of the gunfight. The services continued to remain suspended when the report was last filed.
Jahangeer Ganaie
