Anantnag Encounter: Bla residents take out candlelight march, pay homage to slain officers

Baramulla : The civil society members, youth and traders association at Wagoora area in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Thursday carried out a candlelight march to pay homage to the officers, who sacrificed their lives during an encounter in South Kashmir on Wednesday.

As per the news agency scores of people including prominent and political personalities besides Tehsildar Wagoora took part in the candlelight march, expressing solidarity with the Army, Police and the families of the slain officers.

“We are here to pay homage to the slain officers. We equally share the pain of their families. I have lost my batch mate and a friend,” Zeeshan Khan, Tehsildar Wagoora, who was leading the march said.

“We don’t want killings, we want peace and our people to live in cordial environments,” he said while terming the officers’ killing a big loss.

Meanwhile, a similar candlelight march was also witnessed in other areas of the district including Baramulla town where the people were seen holding placards reading “Martyrs are our heroes”.

“The slain were brave and dedicated officers, they laid down their lives for us, for our peaceful lives, it’s our responsibility to create an atmosphere where there would be no room for encounters or violence,” said Touseef Raina, who was among the leaders, leading the solidarity march from Bindas Chowk to Kriyapa park in Baramulla.

“Our prayers are with them, may peace prevail,” utters Sheikh Aamir, a Congress affiliate.

On Wednesday, two Army officers and a DySP rank police officer were killed while fighting militants in an encounter at Gadool hamlet in South Kashmir’s Anantnag.

The officers were identified as Colonel Manpreet Singh (CO), who was leading 19 Rashtriya Rifles, Major Aashish Dhonchak and Deputy Superintendent of Police Humayun Bhat, son of a former DIG of Police Ghulam Mohammed Bhat—(KNO)