SrinagarA night long encounter ended Wednesday morning after three militants were killed after the house, they were trapped in, was blasted by mortar shelling by armed forces in central Kashmir district of Budgam.
Contingents of Army, CRPF and SOG of Jammu Kashmir Police cordoned off Redbugh village of Budgam on Tuesday night, reportedly following a tip off. As the forces neared the house where the three militants identified as Javid Ahmed Sheikh, a resident of Saadpora Narbal, Sajad Ahmad Gilkar of Nowhatta Srinagar and Aaquib Gul of Goripora Hyderpora , an encounter ensued.
A police official said that the operation was halted for the night but the armed forces maintained the cordon of the area to stop the militants from escaping.
With the crack of the dawn soldiers began firing towards the house, belonging to one Muhammad Ramzan Mir, where militants were holed up, reports said.
After intermittent firing troops finally blasted the house with heavy mortar shelling killing all the three. However one report said, a militant came out in open firing on the troops, before he was shot dead.
All the three slain militants belonged to Hizb-ul-Mujahideen.
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Authorities shortly after the gunfight, suspended internet facility in Central Kashmir while restrictions were clamped across old city of Srinagar to prevent any public backlash as one of the slain militants belonged to Nowhatta locality.
Shopkeepers downed their shutters in most parts of the city.
According to the police, restrictions were imposed as a preventive measure in areas falling under the jurisdiction of police stations of Rainawari, Khanyar, Nowhatta, M.R. Gunj and Safa Kadal.
Reports said that clashes erupted after police and paramilitary forces fired pellets and lobbed teargas shells to prevent mourners from marching towards the Jamia Masjid.
Thousands of people participated in the last rites of Sajad Ahmed Gilkar whose funeral prayers were offered at local sports stadium.
Amid pro-freedom slogans, thousands of people amid restrictions took to roads after the body of the slain militant reached Nowhatta. The mourners clashed with government forces resulting in the injuries to several persons. He was later laid to rest at Malkha Cemetery of Srinagar.
A photographer working for Greater Kashmir, Aman Farooq suffered injuries while covering these clashes.
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Massive clashes broke out in Hyderpora after the news about the death Aqib Gul spread in the area. Women were seen wailing and beating their chests as the body of Gul reached his home in the morning.
Amid pro-freedom slogans, youth took to streets and pelted stones on the government forces. The forces retaliated with tear-smoke shells. The clashes continued for hours resulting in the shutdown and suspension of traffic on the Airport road.
Reports said funeral procession first headed towards the residence of Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Geelani. Photojournalists covering the funeral said that the mourners wanted Geelani to offer the funeral prayers of Gul.
However, forces were already deployed their in strength. They did not let the mourners proceed and the funeral prayers were finally offered in Hyderpora Chowk.
Later thousands participated in the funeral prayers of Gul who was laid to rest amid pro-freedom slogans at his ancestral graveyard in Goripora, Hyderpora.
Reports from Narbal said that five back to back funeral prayers were held for slain militant Javid Ahmed alias Tafazul Islam at his ancestral Churpora (Sadpora) village.
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Reports said that Javaid was laid to rest amid pro-freedom slogans at his ancestral graveyard.
Eyewitnesses said that tens of thousands of people participated in his funeral prayers in which banners extolling slain Hizb commander Burhan Wani were waved by the mourners.
A complete shutdown was observed in Magam, Aripanthan, Narbal and Beerwah area of the district to mourn these killings.
Lensman hit by pellets in face
Aman Farooq, who is associated with Greater Kashmir, was hit by pellets after police resorted to violence on the funeral procession of a militant, who was killed in Budgam earlier on Wednesday.
Farooq said, that he was covering the funeral of Sajad Ahmad Gilkar in Pandan Nowhatta area when pellets were fired at the mourners.
I have been hit by pellets in face and arms, he said, adding that several persons were injured during the clashes.
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