Thousands including rebels throng residence of Hizb rebel killed in Padgampora

Srinagar: Thousands including rebels throng residence of Hizb rebel killed in Padgampora in a brief encounter with security forces on Sunday.

As soon as the news of two rebels being killed near Awantipora in Pulwama district was reported by Kashmir based news media, thousands of people started to throng towards the residence of the two rebels.

People were especially seen marching towards one of the deceased rebel Rayees Kachroo who took up arms during Kashmir Uprising 2016.

As the deceased rebel was brought to his home, the pro-freedom sloganeering intensified and people were given to see a last glimpse of the rebel. Women were also seen kissing the rebel.

In the meantime, few rebels appeared on the scene and offered gun salute to the deceased rebel.

Hizbul Mujahideen also paid tributes to the two rebels killed by police. In a tele-statement to KNS, HM Operational Spokesman Buhran-u-Din said that the two militants belong to Hizbul Mujahideen and have sacrificed their lives for the freedom of Kashmir.

The spokesman said that the Hizb Chief Syed Salahudin while presiding over a meeting paid glowing tributes to the rebels.

He said that two rebels who were killed by forces included Farooq Ahmad alias Saad of Nazimpora, Shopian, and Rayees Ahmad alias Abu Bakr of Below, Pulwama.

Inspector General of Police S J M Gillani, on the other hand, while addressing a press conference said that a police party was on way from Pulwama to Awantipora in the afternoon.

“A group of terrorists boarding a Maruti car bearing registration number JK13A-0764 fired upon police party near Padgampora which was retaliated. During the exchange of fire between the terrorists and the police party, two terrorists were killed,” the IGP said.

“The identity of the terrorists have been ascertained as Shahbaz Shafi Wani alias Rayees Kachroo son of Mohammad Shafi resident of Below, Rajpora, Pulwama and Farooq Ahmad Hurrah son of Ghulam Ahmad Hurrah resident of Naizneenpora Shopian,” he added.

Both of them belonged to Hizbul Mujahideen, he said.

“1 AK rifle, 1 SLR, 1 AK magazine, 2 SLR Magazines, 2 pouches and a grenade was recovered from the spot,” he said.

Pertinent to mention here that the recovered SLR is the same which was looted on 8th of October 2016 from Tumlahal minority picket in Pulwama, he said, adding, that further investigation in this connection is going on. (With Inputs from KNS)