A youth was injured during clashes with government forces in Drubgam village of Pulwama district on Monday, a witness said. The witness said that the youth, identified as Manzoor Ahmad from Tahab village, was hit by a bullet in his face during clashes that erupted ahead of the funeral of a slain Jaish-e-Muhammad militant Manzoor Ahmad Baba who was killed in the Lethpora gunfight on Sunday.
Baba was killed along with his associate Fardeen Ahmad Khandey, and another militant, after they launched an attack on a CRPF training centre in Lethpora.
The witness said that government forces had laid an “outer cordon” to prevent militants from reaching Drabgam to offer a gun-salute to Baba.
Soon after the cordon was laid, clashes erupted as people staged massive protests, the witness said, adding that forces used live ammunition and teargas shells to disperse the protesters.
In the forces’ action, a youth identified as Manzoor Ahmad of Tahab, was hit by a bullet in his face and was immediately shifted to district hospital where from he was referred to a Srinagar hospital for specialised treatment.
Seven rounds of funeral prayers were held for the slain Jaish-e-Muhammad militant Baba in Drubgam, the witness said.
He said that multiple prayers were offered to accommodate the massive rush of people who had marched to the village from adjacent areas.
(With inputs from GK web desk)