Shopian: People in Heff Shirmal area of Shopian district have begun exhumation of body of a civilian who was killed by unknown gunmen some days back in the area.

Militants appeared at the Graveyard where Tariq ahmad Mohand is buried and declared him as ‘martyr’ and accused ‘Indian agencies for his execution’ on Friday after congregational prayers ended.

”They paid a gun salute to Tariq and said that he is a martyr and Indian agencies executed him. He should be buried in Martyrs Graveyard near Saddam paddar,” locals said.

Soon after the announcement people have begun exhumation and they will bury him in nearby Martyrs Graveyard.

Locals say that after his body was found in Awneera area people were divided over calling Tariq a ‘martyr or collaborator’.

”Some suggested to bury him Martyrs Graveyard since he was a good man and a relative of slain militant Bilal Moulvi. Others claimed that he was killed for being a mukhbir. But today controversy was ended by militants,” locals claimed.

Tariq abducted from home in heffshirmal shopian by unknown gunmen and next day his body was found in awneera village of kulgam.

Tariq was a carpenter.

picture used for representational purposes only and has no relation with the actual incident