Srinagar: Armed forces on Sunday to fired at the civilians who attempted to gather for the funeral of militant commander Zeenat-ul-Islam. Mourners were gathering to participate in the funeral prayers of Islam at his native Sugan village of south Kashmir’s Shopian district.
Four civilians were wounded after the armed forces fired bullets and pellets at the mourners, with two being hit by bullets and two injured by pellets.
Eyewitnesses told Free Press Kashmir that the forces had sealed all roads leading to Sugan village to limit the number of people participating in the funeral of Islam.
However, mourners continued to reach the village after making their way through bylines, and crossing checkpoints though orchards and agricultural fields.
Islam was killed in a gunfight with armed forces in Katpora village of Yaripora in Kashmir’s Kulgam district.
Considered as an Improvised explosive device (IED) expert, Zeenat ul Islam, a native of Shopian’s volatile Sugan area had joined militant ranks in 2015. He was now commander of Al Badr outfit.
Zeenat-ul-Islam, according to police, had a ‘long history of crime records since 2006’ when he got affiliated with Al-Badr and was later arrested. However after he was released, he again got in touch with Hizb in 2016 and recently he joined Al-Badr in Shopian.
