Parts of Budgam shut to remember local militant on his first anniversary

Srinagar: Chadoora town and its adjacent areas of Central Kashmir’s Budgam district observed a shutdown to remember Hizbul Mujhadeen slain Operational Commander Muhammad Yasin Itoo alias Mehmood Ghaznavi on his first death anniversary.
Ghaznavi along with two associates was killed in a gunfight with government forces last year in South Kashmir’s Shopian district. In the gunfight two soldiers were also killed. He had joined Hizbul Mujahideen in 1996 but was arrested in 2007 and was later released on parole. After his release, he went missing while a Hizb statement declared him dead and said that he was killed when he fell from a mountain while being on “operational duties”. His funeral of absentia was offered at his Nagam Chadoora residence.
Reports said that all the shops and business establishments remained closed while skeletal movement of transport was observed on the roads.
Meanwhile, Hizbul Mujhadeen while paying rich tributes to Mehmood Ghaznavi said that he was not a terrorist but a freedom fighter who spilled his blood for sake of nation.
The Hizb Operational spokesperson quoted Syed Salahuddin as having said that Mehmood Ghaznavi will always remembered for his supreme sacrifices. “People of Kashmir are not terrorists but peaceful who demand their birth right which is freedom,” Burhanuddin told local news gathering agency CNS over phone.
Hizb also expressed grief over the demise of the mother of one of its slain commander Shams-ul-Haq. “The deceased soul was noble and freedom loving,” he said.