Amid shutdown, restrictions thousands participate in the funeral of three local militants

Baramulla: Amid shutdown and restrictions, thousands of people on Thursday participated in the last rites of three militants killed in a gunfight with the government forces in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
Top Lashkar commander Shoaib Akhoon of Khanpora was shot dead along with his two associates by the forces in a gunfight in Binner village of the district yesterday.
Eyewitnesses said that the forces had sealed several roads in Khanpora and Old town areas to limit the number of mourners in the funerals of the slain militants.
Despite the restrictions, they said a huge number of men and women gathered in the funeral prayers of Akhoon in Khanpora area.
In Old town Baramulla, thousands of people marched with the bodies of Mosin Mushtaq of Qazi Hamam and Nisar Darzi of Jamia Mohalla. The mourners were raising pro-freedom slogans as they marched with the bodies of the duo.
A spontaneous shutdown was observed in the district to mourn the killings. Internet remained suspended for the second consecutive day in the district while restrictions were placed on the movement of people, especially mourners.
Reports said even journalists were not allowed to cover the funerals of the slain militants.