Former Militant, 3-Year-Old Son Shot in Kashmir’s Sopore District

A former militant and his three-year-old son were shot dead by unidentified militants, who struck at their residence, about 55 kms from here in Sopore area of Kashmir on Friday.

Burhan, 3, was in the arms of his father Bashir Ahmad Bhat when they faced a volley of bullets from motorcycle-borne gunmen at the Sagipora locality in Sopore last evening.

Both were rushed to hospital but Bhat succumbed to his injuries on the way, while Burhan passed away this morning.

A grenade fell down from the possession of the assailants while escaping.

The killing evoked widespread condemnation, with chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed describing it as a dastardly act.

Top separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani has condemned the killings and called for an independent probe.

Meanwhile, villagers on Saturday discovered the bullet-riddled body of a militant in an orchard in Indian Kashmir’s Tangmarg area. Several parts of north Kashmir witnessed a shutdown with shopkeepers closing down shops.

Talking to a Srinagar-based wire service, a Hizb spokesman said, “Bhat one of our militant commanders”. The killings led to days of protest and clashes between local residents and Indian government forces.

“I along with others will sit on a one day token hunger strike at Pratap Park on Tuesday (September 22) against these killings”, Malik said in the statement. Since April this year, eight people have been killed by unidentified gunmen in Sopore and its adjoining localities.