Amid complete shutdown, thousands of people on Monday staged anti-India protests and attended funerals of two Hizbul Mujahideen militants at Pulwama and Shopian districts of south Kashmir who were killed yesterday in a brief gunfight while clashes left nearly 18 persons injured.Two militants, Shahbaaz Wani alias Rayees of Bellow Pulwama and Farooq Hurra of Nazneenpora Shopian were killed in a brief gunfight at Padgampura in Awantipora on Sunday with police. The killing of two militants triggered massive protests in Pulwama and Shopian areas and today thousands of people converged at Bellow and Nazneenpora to attend funeral prayers of the duo.Against the killing of these militants, complete shutdown was observed at Pulwama, Awantipora, Shopian, Tral and other villages of the two districts. According to eyewitnesses, four back to back funerals of Rayees were offered at Bellow by thousands of people amid massive anti-India protests.
The slain was later buried in local martyrs’ graveyard. Soon after the burial, hundreds of people clashed with government forces who responded by pellets, teargas shells and aerial firing.Local sources said at around 18 persons were injured in the clashes, most of whom were hit by pellets, while three of the injured were shifted to Srinagar hospital for treatment. Medical officials said 13 persons were treated at District Hospital Pulwama. The clashes at Bellow continued till late in the evening.At Nazneenpora, thousands of people staged anti-India protests and offered funeral prayers of Farooq Ahmad Hurra, the militant killed yesterday. He was laid to rest amid sobs and tears. The funeral and burial concluded peacefully. According to reports, the Shopian district also observed complete shutdown.In Tral town of Pulwama district, clashes between youth and government forces erupted against the militant killings. Meanwhile, resistance leaders including Syed Ali Shah Geelani paid tributes to slain militants and asked people to stay away from upcoming elections. Hizbul Mujahideen has also paid tributes to the slain militants.(GNS)