Thousands participated in funeral procession
Srinagar, Dec 9, CNS: Saffron town Pamore in South and Apple Town Sopore in North Kashmir observed a complete shutdown against the killing of two Lashkar-e-Toiba militants onWednesday. Two militants including a non-local militant from Pakistan were killed in a gun fight at Sempora Pampore on Tuesday evening. The slain militants were identified as Shakir Showkat Bhat a resident of Nowpora Kalan Sopore and Said Bhai of Pakistan.
Police sources informed CNS that the body of the Pakistani militant was handed over to Auqaf Committee and he was laid to rest in a grave yard at Boniyar Uri while another militant from Sopore was laid to rest at 9 AM in the local grave yard. All but ten thousand mourners participated in the funeral procession of the slain militant in Sopore. The mourners amid pro-freedom and pro-Islamic slogans pelted stones on Government Forces; however the Forces did not retaliate.
Eyewitnesses said that all the shops and business establishments remained shut and transport was off the roads both in Pampore and Sopore. Witnesses added that hundreds of people from Khrew, Drangabal and Kadlabal Pampore marched towards Police Station Pampore on Wednesday morning demanding the bodies of the militants. When Police informed them that bodies had already been shifted to North Kashmir, the agitated protesters pelted stones on police and CRPF personnel deployed outside police station. Police according to eyewitnesses exercised restrain and did not retaliate. However when the protesters started pelting stones on the police station, the government forces resorted to lathi charge and arrested three protesters on spot.
Reports said that large contingent of police and CRPF personnel were deployed in Pampore and Sopore to thwart any kind of protests