Protests Erupt in Palhalan Following Militant Funeral

People says militants killed in custody; DIG says died in an encounter

SRINAGAR: Protests erupted in Palhalan on Wednesday soon after the bodies of two local militants, killed in an encounter yesterday, were laid to rest.

The protesters alleged that the two local militants, Aaqib Rashid Sofi and Bilal Ahmad Bhat, were killed in custody after their arrest.

Pertinently Police on Tuesday had claimed to have killed two Hizbul Mujahideen militants in Goshbug village of Pattan area in an encounter between the two sides.

According to reports thousands of people joined the funeral procession of two militants.

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After funeral procession scores of people from Palhalan and adjourning areas shouting pro-freedom slogans held massive protests.

Angry protesters alleged that the duo was killed in custody. They were killed in a staged encounter after they were caught alive, KNS quoting residents said.

When people tried to block the Srinagar-Baramulla highway a heavy contingent of police and paramilitary forces intervened and fired teargas shells to disperse the protesters. The protesters clashed with police and fought pitched battles with cops in which many people were injured.

As a result of tense situation in the area thousands of vehicles got stuck on the highway leading to huge traffic Jam.

Meanwhile Deputy Inspector General of Police North Kashmir J.P Singh when contacted maintained that the two were militants who were killed in an encounter. There is no truth in the allegation. It is absolutely baseless that they were killed in custody. These militants were active from one year. It was joint operation of police and army who killed these militants in an encounter, Sing said.

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