Sameer, associate laid to rest; Thousands participate in funerals

Srinagar, May 01: Thousands of people on Tuesday participated in the funeral of slain Hizb commander Sameer Tiger and his associate in Drubgam and Rajpora villages respectively.
Sameer Ahmad Bhat alias ‘Tiger’ son of Mohammad Maqbool of Drabgam and Aqib Khan son of Mushtaq Ahmad Khan of Rajpora – were killed in a gunfight at Drabgam yesterday.
A civilian teenage youth Shahid Ashraf Dar of Arihal was also killed after hit by a bullet during the clashes near the gunfight site.
Two soldiers including an army major were wounded in the gunfight.
Eyewitnesses said that a large number of people participated in funeral prayers of the two slain militants at both the villages. Later the duo was laid to rest at their respective native places.
Mourners raised pro-freedom and pro-militant slogans during the funeral prayers which were held at least five times for Sameer Tiger to accomodate the massive rush of people who were arriving from nearby and far-off places.
An eye witness said that few militants appeared in the funeral of ‘Tiger’ and fired several shots in the air to offer gun-salute to their fallen associate.