Armed forces fired at civilians stopping them from participating in funeral of militant Zeenat-ul-Islam
Srinagar: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday said that stopping the crowd to participate in the funeral prayer of a local militant was an interference in the religious affairs that would lead to further anger and alienation.
The statement by Mufti came in the aftermath of the funeral of militant Zeenat-ul-Islam where civilians were fired upon by the armed forces, resulting in injury of at least 10 people.
The armed forces fired at civilians to stop them from attending the funeral procession.
Mufti wrote on Twitter, that such interference in religious affairs may backfire leading to further anger. “Reports of aerial firing at Sugan Shopian to stop the crowd from participating in the funeral prayers of a local militant, are very unfortunate and disturbing,” she wrote.
Reports of aerial firing at Sugan Shopian to stop the crowd from participating in the funeral prayers of a local militant, are very unfortunate and disturbing. Such interference in the religious affairs is undesirable and may backfire leading to further anger and alienation.
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) January 13, 2019
Eyewitnesses told Free Press Kashmir that the forces had sealed all roads leading to Sugan village to limit the number of people participating in the funeral of Islam.
However, mourners continued to reach the village after making their way through bylines, and crossing checkpoints though orchards and agricultural fields.
Islam was killed in a gunfight with armed forces in Katpora village of Yaripora in Kashmir’s Kulgam district.
Clashes have erupted in Kulgam where two militants were killed by security forces. Can only hope it doesnt set off a cycle of protests followed by civilian killings. Precisely why I was adamant on extension of the ceasefire initiative by GoI.
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) January 12, 2019
Considered as an Improvised explosive device (IED) expert, Zeenat ul Islam, a native of Shopian’s volatile Sugan area had joined militant ranks in 2015. He was now commander of Al Badr outfit.
Zeenat-ul-Islam, according to police, had a ‘long history of crime records since 2006’ when he got affiliated with Al-Badr and was later arrested. However after he was released, he again got in touch with Hizb in 2016 and recently he joined Al-Badr in Shopian.
