Thousands Mourn Zakir Musa’s Killing as Shutdown Observed Across Kashmir

Tral, May 24, KNT: Thousands of people gathered in south Kashmir’s Tral area on Friday to mourn the killing of Zakir Rashid Bhat, widely known as Zakir Musa, as a shutdown and clashes were reported across several parts of the Kashmir Valley following the operation in which he was killed, officials and witnesses said.

Musa, who was heading Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind, was killed during an overnight encounter with government forces in the Dadsara area of Tral in Pulwama district, police said.

The operation triggered widespread protests and clashes in different parts of the Valley, including Habakadal, Reka Chowk Batamaloo, Humhama, Soura and Rainawari in Srinagar.

Authorities imposed restrictions in several areas while educational institutions were closed and internet services were suspended as a precautionary measure.

Police also detained the owner of the house where Musa was hiding. The detainee was identified as Mudasir Ahmed Gahnoo, a resident of Dadsara Tral, and was taken into custody for questioning.

Police sources said investigators were examining whether videos of Musa and slain Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani that circulated widely on social media had been recorded and edited at the same house.

A police official said the matter was under investigation and declined to comment further.

   Officials said the encounter began on Thursday evening after security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the Batpora area of Dadsara following specific intelligence input about the presence of a militant.

“During the search operation, the hiding militant fired upon the search party, which was retaliated, leading to an encounter,” a police official said.

According to officials, contact with Musa was established around 7 p.m., and the exchange of fire continued for several hours.

The house where he was hiding was later set ablaze during the operation, and two nearby houses belonging to Reyaz Ahmad Rather and Sanaullah Rather suffered partial damage.

Officials said Musa was killed early Friday morning after the exchange of fire resumed.

Locals said that when forces were clearing debris from the damaged house, Musa emerged and opened fire, leading to another brief exchange of gunfire lasting around 15 minutes.

His body was later retrieved from the debris at around 6:30 a.m., witnesses said.

The killing triggered massive gatherings in Musa’s native village of Noorpora in Tral, where thousands of people assembled to attend the funeral.

Eyewitnesses said a large number of mourners from different parts of Kashmir reached the village despite restrictions imposed by authorities.

Local residents said multiple funeral prayers were offered for Musa, with people attending in large numbers.

Reports said that a helicopter was also seen flying over the area to monitor the situation.

Clashes were also reported in several villages in Tral during the night, including Chandrigam, Batagund and Dadsara.

Residents alleged that protesters damaged a Fire and Emergency Services vehicle that was heading toward Dadsara to extinguish the blaze during the operation.

Some residents also alleged that several youth were detained by security forces near Sangam Bridge.

Police officials confirmed the killing of the militant and said he had been active for several years.

According to police records, Musa had been involved in militancy since 2013.

He was initially associated with Hizbul Mujahideen before forming Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind.

Police said he was wanted in multiple cases related to attacks on security establishments, militant activities, weapon snatching, arson incidents and other offences.

Officials said several cases had been registered against him at different police stations over the years.

Police records also stated that Musa had been declared a proclaimed offender by a special court of the National Investigation Agency in Mohali in connection with a case related to serial blasts in Jalandhar in 2018.

Authorities said the situation in the Valley remained tense but under control as security forces maintained heightened deployment in several areas. [KNT]