Wedding celebrations turned into mourning for a family in Sopore after the bride’s brother, a militant, died along with the associate in a gunfight with government forces at Handwara in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district. The family was soaked in celebration as the militant’s younger brother was married yesterday.The family was now preparing for the marriage of the militant’s sister and suddenly the news broke that Liyaqat Ahmad Lone, the militant, was trapped in a cordon and search operation at Handwara.“Today was my wedding. Yesterday my brother Javid Ahmad Lone got married. Today some people told us that our brother was trapped and we were stuck,” says Rubeena, Lone’s sister whose marriage has been postponed for now.In 2002, Rubeena said her brother surrendered in order to live a peaceful life. “Later on forces harassed him which compelled him to join the militancy again,” she said. “I am happy my brother achieved martyrdom.”Meanwhile, the family decided to postponed today's wedding of Rubeena and the next date of the wedding will be finalized later.Lone went missing from his house and joined militant ranks earlier in July year, the family members said.The other militant killed in the encounter was identified as Furqan Rashid Lone alias Adil, a resident of Langate in Kupwara's district Shartpora area, a police spokesman said. (GNS)