J-K: Hundreds attend funeral of LeT’s ‘engineer’ militant amid pro-azadi slogans

Hundreds braved chilly weather on Sunday to attend the funeral of Lashkar-e-Taiba militant Rayees Ahmad Dar, who was killed in an encounter in south Kashmir the day before.

The 25-year-old militant was buried in his native town of Kakpora amid pro-azadi sloganeering even as protests had erupted in the area after the news of his death spread.

As a precautionary measure four centres for the ongoing Class 10 and 12 board examinations were shifted to Pulwama from the tensed Kakpora and the adjoining Pahoo areas for exams scheduled on Sunday and Monday.

DC Pulwama Muneer-ul-Islam said all 302 class 10 students whose centres were shifted for Sunday appeared for their exams without any problem.

“All the exam materials were shifted at night from Kakpora police station to Pulwama police station. Adequate seating arrangements were also made,” he added.

The funeral, however, did not cause any law-and-order problem, a police officer at Kakpora said though emotional pictures of women crying over the body were shared on social media.

Dar was killed in Pulwama district after a joint party of police, CRPF and the army surrounded Begumbagh area near Kakapora on Saturday following inputs about the presence of militants.

Police said he was shot dead after being cornered in a house.

He had gone missing after he went to visit his nephew on October 6, said his family members, who had put out a “missing notice” last month.

The notice, written in Urdu, said: “Despite searches we could not find him. His mother is ill and the family is worried.”

Police confirmed he was missing for some time now.

Residents said Dar held a diploma in civil engineering. Pulwama superintendent of police Rayees Mohammad told HT that they were verifying the slain militant’s qualification.