Militants offer gun salute at Kulgam

Umaisar Gull Ganie

Kulgam, May 16: Panic created in Redwani area of Qaimoh in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Thursday late evening when armed militants emerged at the grave yard of recently killed Lashkar-e-Toiba militant Javid Ahmad Bhat and offered gun salute to him.

Javid along with along with his associate namely Aadil Bashir Wani was killed in a gun battle at Hind Saitpora area of South Kashmir’s Shopian district on May 12 this month.

Eye witnesses told PTK that over 4-5 armed militants appeared at the graveyard of Javid Ahmad Bhat and fired dozens of rounds in air. The gun shots created panic in the area while some took it as an encounter. It however, didn’t take long for people to understand the real story.

Witnesses added that a large number of mourners visited the houses of Javid Bhat at Redwani area of Qaimoh on their ‘chahrum’ to express sympathies with the bereaved family.

An official on condition of anonymity confirmed that gun salute was given to slain Javid by militants at Redwani Kulgam.