Thousands attend funeral of slain Hizb militant Yawar Nissar in Anantnag

Anantnag: Thousands of people on Friday participated in the funeral prayers of slain militant Yawar Nissar Wagay who was killed in a gunfight with government forces in Kanelwan village of Bijbehara in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district late last night.

The funeral prayers for the slain militant were held at Hanfia Eidgah, Janglat Mandi where thousands of people offered the prayers.

Nisar was the first militant from the town in more than a decade. He had joined militant ranks less than two weeks before.

Meanwhile, a complete shutdown is being observed across the Annatnag district to mourn the killing of the militant.

Earlier in the day, police said that army’s 3 Rashtriya Rifles, CRPF 40/90 BN and special operations group (SOG) of J&K police launched a search operation in Kanelwan after “specific input” about presence of three militants in Herpora Kanelwan.

They said that militants fired on the search party, resulting in exchange of fire.

They added two militants took advantage of darkness and managed to give a slip to forces and opening fire around midnight. (Pictures by Aasif Shafi)