Sopore: Amid cold weather and continued rains massive throng was witnessed at the funeral prayers of slain Lasker-e-Tobia militant Ishfaq Majeed Mir at his native village Brath Sopore in Northern Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

Representational Picture Credits: Jahangir Shah

Ishfaq was among the two militants killed in one of the longest gunfights between militants and government forces at Babagund area of Handwara in Kupwara district. Five forces personnel were also killed in the fierce 55 hour long firefight.

Eyewitness said that thousands of people marched towards the village to assemble ‘to have the last glimpse of Ishfaq’. “Even though rains were lashing the area thousands turned up for the funeral prayers. Women and children too have assembled in the area from different villages,” they said.

The area is reverberating with Pro Freedom, Pro Islam, Pro Pakistan sloganeering as large procession took Ishfaq to be laid to rest. “Amid sloganeering Ishfaq was laid to rest at martyrs graveyard,” they said.

Reports said that a large number of forces have been deployed in the area to curb any protests against the killing of local militant. Mobile internet facilities remains suspended in Sopore area as a precautionary measure.(KNO)