The people in north Kashmir’s Bandipora on Wednesday observed Chehlum (Muslim religious observance at the 40th day after death) of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani.
Eyewitnesses said that the people from villages of Kaloosa, Watpora, Sheikh Mohalla, Onagam, Papchan, Pazalpora and Nowpora, came out on streets and roads and held special prayers for Wani, who died in a gunfight with government forces on July 8 in southern Kashmiri village of Kokernag.
They said that the tents and shamyans were erected at various places to accommodate the flow of people who came to participate in the prayers meet for Wani. Women were also participating in the observance.
They were singing hymns to praise Wani for his valour and militant life.
Pro-freedom and anti-India slogans were also raised during the protests, witnesses added. The assembly was peaceful until the last reports came in.
