13 martyrs buried in IHK with coffins wrapped in Pak flags

Thousands attend funerals despite curfew; Kashmiris continue protests against killings by Indian troops

HELD SRINAGAR: Thousands of people on Sunday defied a strict curfew across most of Indian Held Kashmir (IHK) to attend the funeral of 13 Kashmiri martyrs, including top commander Sabzar Ahmed Bhat. The coffins of the martyrs were wrapped in Pakistani flags. Sabzar Ahmad Bhat, a senior leader for the Hizbul Mujahideen, was martyred on Saturday in a gunbattle with Indian troops in his hometown of Tral. His death sparked widespread protests and clashes in parts of IHK, leaving one civilian dead and dozens of others wounded.

On Sunday, the first day of the Ramazan, authorities imposed strict security measures erecting barricades in Srinagar and other cities as well as partially cutting telephone services to thwart further protests. Still thousands assembled in Tral to attend the burials shouting anti-India and pro-independence slogans. People were walking on foot to take part in the funerals. 

Authorities clamped a curfew across most of IHK. "Restrictions have been put in place in some areas to maintain law and order," police chief Shesh Pal Vaid told AFP. "Forces have blocked all roads to restrict people to their areas," Bashir Ahmad, a resident of Pulwama told AFP, a neighbouring district of Tral.

Authorities snapped internet mobile services and calling services on Saturday just hours after a month-long ban on 22 social media sites like Facebook and Twitter ended. The lockdown in IHK crippled life. People continued their protest and strike on Sunday, while the Indian troops subjected them to torture.

Held Srinagar's central mosque remained shut and devotees were barred from offering prayers on the first day of Ramazan.  Last year, nearly 100 protesters were killed after Hizbul Mujahideen leader Burhan Wani was martyred triggering months of anti-India protests.