Violent Protests in Mufti's Constituency, Pakistan Flag Planted on Roof of CM's Ancestral Home

SRINAGAR: Violent protests have broken out in Bijbehara, the home constituency of Jammu and Kashmir chief minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, over the killing of three local militants in an encounter with security forces yesterday.

Hundreds of mourners, comprising of men, women and children, shouted pro-freedom and anti-government slogans while marching in the streets of Baba Mohalla where a Pakistani flag was planted atop the roof of the chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed's ancestral home.

Veteran Hurriyat leader, Syed Ali Geelani, has called for shutdown today against the killing of alleged Hizbul Mujahideen militants - Adil Ahmad Sheikh and Tanveer Ahmad Bhat, both residents of Bijbehara town, and Sartaj Ahmad Lone, of Wopzan village of Bijbehara. in an encounter with a government forces in Siligam village near the historic Ashmuqaam town of south Kashmir on Monday.

Tensions ran high in Bijbehara after the bodies were handed over to the local Auqaf committee on Monday evening and it was unanimously decided that the funeral will be held on Tuesday. The bodies were kept overnight at Jamia Masjid in Bijbehara.

At the break of dawn on Tuesday, locals started trickling towards Jamia Masjid. With emotions running high, the trio was later taken to a ground in Bijbehara Housing Colony. Geelani addressed the mourners over phone after which the funeral prayers were held, amid pro-freedom, anti-India and anti-government slogans.

"Adil and Tanveer were buried at the Matryr's Graveyard where lie buried the martyrs of 1993 Bijbehara massacre. Sartaj was taken to his native place for burial," a local of Bijbehara told The Citizen over phone.

Following the burial, violent clashes broke out in Bijbehara between agitated youths and security personnel during which a Pakistani flag was planted on top of Mufti Sayeed's ancestral home. The flag was later brought down by the forces.

Police sources said three youth sustained injuries due to shells in the ongoing clashes.

Meanwhile, the shutdown call of the Hurriyat evoked a mild response in Kashmir, including the restive Srinagar city, where traffic is plying normally and most of the government offices and private business are open, although some shops are closed.