Protests, shutdown in Lolab against militant killings
Complete shutdown was observed on Sunday in Diver, Dardpora, Lalpora and Sogam areas of Lolab against the killing of three Lashker-e Toiba militants in an encounter with army on Saturday at Dardpora village.Reports said that all shops and other business establishments were closed to traffic in the area.
Meanwhile scores of villagers from Lalpora, Diver and Dardepora marched raising pro-freedom slogans and reached the local graveyard at Dardpora where three militants were buried last evening and offered funeral prayers in absentia.
One militant was killed on Friday evening and two more were killed on Sunday in an encounter with SOG and Army in Lolab area of Kupwara.
Firefight had erupted after a patrol party of 28 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and SOG was reportedly fired upon when forces had laid a cordon and zeroed in on a residential house at Chopan mohalla of Dardpora after the specific information on presence of militants in the area.
The body of one killed militant was handed over to local Auqaf Committee on Friday and other two bodies were given on Saturday evening after medico-legal formalities at Sub district hospital Sogam.
One militant was buried on Friday afternoon and other two were buried in the local graveyard at Dardpora late in the evening of Saturday.
Pertinently in a major encounter on Feb 25, 2014 seven unidentified militants were killed by Army and police in same village without any loss to forces.
Dardpora village of Lolab is located adjacent to Bandipora and a major ridge dotted with thick forests divides Lolab and Bandipora.
Different tracks from Diver, Dardepora, Dorsa stretch up to Bandipora, Sopore and Ganderbal and are witness to frequent combing operation, and encounters. Security agencies consider these areas as launching tracks for militants.
