Militants fire aerial shots as a tribute to Dr Sabzar Sofi

CNS Kashmir

Anantnag, Oct 24, CNS: Thousands of mourners participated in the last rites of scholar turned Hizb militant Dr Sabzar Sofi at his native Naina village in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district.

Dr Sabzar Sofi alias Dr Saifullah Khalid along with his associate Asif Ahmed Shergujri were killed in a gun fight with government forces at Wanabal Nowgam area in the outskirts of Srinagar city.

Reports said that thousands of mourners from his village and adjoining areas rushed to Naina to participate in the last rites of slain militant Sabzar Ahmed. Reports added that a group of at least six armed militants appeared at funeral procession who fired dozens of rounds in air to pay tribute to the departed slain militant.

An eyewitness told news agency CNS that the group of militants was led by Hizb top commander Zeenat-ul-Islam. He added that mourners mostly youth amid pro-freedom and pro-Zeenat-ul-Islam slogans encircled the militants. Militants according to eyewitness fire some shots to disperse the crowd. “A couple of people felt unconscious and were shifted to nearby hospital,” he added.

It has become a norm in Kashmir for militants to appear in their colleagues funerals. The militants not only give gun salute but also address mourners. Eyewitnesses said that the slain militant was laid to rest amid pro-freedom slogans. Reports from Khiram-Sirham-native village of another slain militant Asif Ahmed Shergujri, people in large numbers participated in his funeral procession. (CNS)