SRINAGAR: A week after the Assassination of Dr Qazi Nissar life in Anantnag remains paralyzed due to a continuing protest strike throughout the southern Kashmir district even as the Hizbul Mujahideen organized a poorly Attended pro-Pakistan demonstration in the town June 27.
About 15000 villagers mostly followers and members of the fundamentalist Jamaat-e-Islami and Hizbul-Mujahideen marched from Pyathdalaygam village carrying bodies of four foreign mercenaries and one local militant of the Harkatul-Ansar killed by the BSF at Dayalgam village. The Processionists raised pro-Pakistan and pro-Hizbul-Mujahideen slogans as it waded its way to the Ahlehadees (a Sunni sect) Idgah to culminate in a rally and burial ceremony.
The five militants including three Afghans one of whom was Bambar Khan one Pakistani national and another one hailing from Anchabal were killed and another injured in the encounter BSF D I G H. S. Gill escaped an attempt on his life by militants while he was leading the jawans during the operation.
Meanwhile people in and around Anantnag have been observing a complete hartal since the day Dr. Nissar was abducted and killed June 20. Reports of stoning of private vehicles passing through the highway town of Bijbehara by angry people have also been received
Meanwhile the alleged assassin of Dr Nisar is roaming scot free in Anantnag town in the face of a paralyzed police setup which does not dare take up the investigations into the much-condemned murder for fear of retaliation from the accused group. Abu Bakr battalion commander of the Hizb who has been identified as one of hte persons who kidnapped Dr Nissar from his residence on June 20 has been addressing public congregations at local mosques to deny charges against him and attribute the murder to Indian agents. He recently addressed a small congregation at Chinni Chowk of Anantnag where he blamed pro Indian elements for defaming his outfit and also issued warnings to those who engineered pro-Indian and anti-Pakistan demonstrations after Dr. Nissars killing in Anantnag.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 1, 1994
