23-year old Zahid Rasool Bhat, who was burnt by the goons off Hindutva outfits at Udhampur and succumbed yesterday, was today laid to rest amid sobs, tears and anti-India protests in his native village at Botengo in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.According to GNS, thousands of people today morning participated in funeral of the Zahid at Botengo despite rains and strict restrictions by government forces.The family members of Zahid and thousands other bid a tearful adieu to the slain amidst sobs and teargas. Witnesses said people in huge numbers thronged Batengoo to attend Zahid’s funeral. The witnesses said that thousands of people participated in his funeral amid pro-freedom, pro-Islam and anti-India slogans. The mourners also waved the flag of Pakistan in the funeral procession.
Anger was brewing among the mourners particularly youths against the killing and Hindutva outfits. Soon after Zahid was buried, hundreds of youths resorted to heavy stone-pelting on police and paramilitary troopers deployed in the area.The forces lobbed hundreds of teargas shells and pepper grenades to disperse the anti-India protesters. However, the protesters offered stiff resistance and continued stone-pelting from all sides on the forces.Local sources said that more than a dozen youths sustained injuries in the clashes while nearly 6 forces’ personal were also injured. The clashes continued throughout the day despite rains.Protesters and government forces also clashed at Bijbehara Township of Anantnag district. The police lobbed several teargas shells to disperse the demonstrators.In Frisal area of Kulgam district, angry protesters burnt the effigy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and accused his government of backing Hindu outfits. The protest however ended peacefully. (GNS)