Locals accuse army of thrashing Imams for offering funeral of slain suicide bomber

Srinagar, February 16: Two religious preachers were allegedly beaten to pulp during a nocturnal raid in South Kashmir’s Shopian district.
Sources said that at around 3 am on Saturday night forces barged into the house of Molvi Mohammad Ahsan in Wathoo shirmal area of South Kashmir’s Shopian district.

Family members alleged that after barging into house, forces asked for Mufti Sheeraz of Arihal Pulwama, who is son in law of Molvi Mohammad Ashan. After finding sheeraz, they dragged both Sheeraz and Ashan out of the house and started beating them and were asking that is hideout in your house, show us or we will kill you , they said.

We were begging them to search everywhere and if they will find a hideout in our house, then kill us all but they didn’t listened our requests and continued to beat them till both became unconscious, they said.

They fractured many body parts of both Ahsan and Sheeraz and Ashan is still lying unconscious, they further added. Pertinently Mohammad Ahsan is delivering Friday sermon at Arihal Pulwama while as Mufti sheeraz is delivering Friday sermon at Qasba Yaar Pulwama.

Both according to their family members were shifted to District hospital Pulwama where they are going under treatment. Mufti sheeraz who is under going treatment at District hospital Pulwama said that we were targeted by forces because we lead the funeral prayers of slain Aadil in on Friday in Arihal.

Medical superintendent Pulwama while confirming that body were admitted in hospital on Saturday morning said that both are stable. On contacting senior superintendent of Police (SSP) Shopian Sandeep choudary, he said I don’t have any information about the incident. Let me check, he said.(KNO)