Pulwama: The encounter between militants and government forces left three families homeless while apple boxes worth lakhs were destroyed.
Three Jaish-e-Muhammad militants and an army soldier were killed in Kandi Aglar village of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district. The Army called off the operation at 1:30 of Tuesday morning. The gunfight left only destruction behind.
The houses of Shiraz Ahmed Lone, Fayaz Ahmed Lone and Ghulam Muhammad Lone were completely destroyed in the gunfight. “We have lost everything. We are finished,” said Fayaz Ahmed.
At least 1200 apple boxes kept in the lawn of one of the houses were completely damaged in the massive shelling. “Three houses were completely destroyed while five other houses were partially damaged,” he said.
Ghulam Muhammad Lone who lost everything in the gunfight said that his son Aqib Ahmed was picked up by Army shortly after the commencement of the encounter. “He was ruthlessly beaten up an currently he is undergoing treatment at District Hospital Pulwama.
Reports said that the bodies of two non-local militants were shifted to Boniyar Uri in the middle of the night where they were buried in a graveyard. The body of local militant Wasim Ahmed Dar of Drubgam was handed over to the family. Thousands of mourners participated in his last rites. Witnesses said that back to back funeral prayers were held for the local militant. Mourners shouted pro-freedom slogans while women showered flower petals and confectionaries on the body of slain militant.
Meanwhile, Pulwama observed a complete shutdown to mourn the killing of three militants.
All the shops and business establishments remained shut while transport also remained off the roads.
Internet service also remained suspended in wake of the prevailing situation.
