Five days after deadly gunfight at Sempora, hundreds of people held funeral-in-absentia for the three slain militants at Pampore and staged protests.Reports informed GNS that hundreds of peole after Friday prayers offered absentia funeral for the three militants who to according police were foreigners. The bodies of three militants were not handed over to people for their final rites and instead were buried at Sheeri in Baramulla district to avoid massive funerals.According to reports, the Pampore area also observed shutdown to mourn militants' deaths. The police detained over a dozen Hurriyat leaders and activists in wake of the proposed funeral-in-absentia call.
Meanwhile, scores of youth assembled in Nowhatta after Friday prayers and staged pro-Azadi and anti-India protests. The protesters waved Pakistani flags and also paid tributes to militants killed in Pampore gunfight.Reports said that the youths pelted stones on forces deployed in the area. Police retaliated by firing dozens of teargas canisters towards the youths. The clashes between youths and government forces resulted in halt of commercial activities in Nowhatta and its adjoining areas as shopkeepers downed their shutters soon after the outbreak of protests. (GNS)