Sopore, Awantipora shut to mourn the killing of local militant

Srinagar: Sopore town of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district observed a complete shutdown against the killing of a local militant.
Mehraj-ud-Din Khan of New Colony was killed on Wednesday in a gunfight with government forces along with top Lashkar-e-Toiba commander Naveed Jatt in a gunfight at Kuthpora village in central Kashmir’s Budgam district.
All shops, business establishments and private offices and schools remained closed while public transport also remained off the roads in the town.
The closure of educational institutions in the town as a precautionary measure was ordered by the authorities.
On Thursday, the town witnessed violent clashes when government forces lobbed tear-smoke shells on mourners.
A shutdown was also observed in Awantipora against the killing of two Hizb militants. Two Hizb ul Mujahideen militants — Adnan Ahmad Lone alias Uqaab, of Braw Bandina in Awantipora, and Adil Bilal Bhat alias Umair Al Hizbi of Malangpora in Pulwama — were killed in a brief gunfight with government forces in Shaar Shali area of Pampore township on Thursday.