In a first, bodies of slain militants not handed over to families for last rites in J-K

Two unidentified local militants were killed during a gunfight with security forces and their bodies were not handed over to the family members for the last rites. This happened for the first time in 30 year-long histories of militancy in Kashmir.

Srinagar: For the first time in 30 years-long histories of militancy in Kashmir, the bodies of local slain militants were not handed over to the family members for the last rites.

The two unidentified local militants were killed on Friday during a gunfight with security forces in Dairoo area of south Kashmir's Shopian district but were buried in north Kashmir's Baramulla district.

According to police, the bodies were not handed over to the family members as a preventive measure taken in view of the widespread coronavirus disease in the Kashmir valley.

"The two slain local militants who were killed during an encounter in Shopian were buried today (Friday) evening in Baramulla district. This decision has been taken in view of the coronavirus pandemic," a senior police official told ETV Bharat.

He further said that the administration was apprehensive about the mass gathering during the funeral of militants which can become a catalyst for the spread of the virus.

"Recently, a local militant affiliated to Pakistan based Jaish-e-Muhammad was killed during an encounter at Sopore and locals in huge number defied lockdown to attend his funeral. We had advised his family before handing over the body that the funeral should remain confined to relatives only. Militant's next of kin had even given a written undertaking to adhere to social distancing when the body was handed over to them," the official said.

When scores of residents joined the funeral of a local militant, it became a matter of concern not only for the police but for the administration who is battling the rapid spread of COVID-19 in the Valley.

"When hundreds of residents gathered at the funeral, the police were left with no option but to register an FIR against all those who were present at the spot," he said.

Read:Jammu and Kashmir: Gunfight starts in Kishtwar district

23-year-old Sajjad Nawab Dar, a resident of Saidpora, was killed during a gunfight in Sopore on April 8. Following which, hundreds of people, including women, joined Dar’s funeral, ignoring the ban on social gatherings.

Videos that have gone viral show the agitated mob shouting pro-Azadi slogans as they take Dar’s body for burial, many of them recording the event on their mobiles. Most of them didn’t wear masks.

The Valley has been under a complete lockdown for the past four weeks since the first coronavirus case surfaced in Srinagar.

The number of positive cases in Kashmir has since swelled to 241. In Jammu, the number has risen to 40.

Five people have died in J&K, four in the Valley and one in Jammu. 17 persons have tested positive in Shopian.

People in the Valley have, for the past three decades, joined funerals of militants in large numbers but the crowds had thinned a little following the clampdown that followed the government’s August 5 move to scrap the then state’s special status under Article 370.

The state has since been split into two Union Territories.

Such incidents have been an eyesore for the administration as they show support for militants in the Valley. This time the authorities are doubly worried as large gatherings can derail the effort to contain the spread of the virus.