Martyrs Graveyard flooded:Rising kashmir

• 2 lakh Kashmiris brave bullets, offer Aziz’s funeral prayers
  
• No contact with Shabir Shah: Mirwaiz
  
• Open Jhelum Valley road, construct Mughal road: Geelani
  
• Peoples’ power stronger than military might: Malik
  
• Pak flag hoisted

Abid Bashir/Hakeem Irfan
Srinagar, Aug 12: Defying curfew and braving bullets and tear smoke canisters that police and troopers showered at them everywhere in the city, around 2 lakh people flooded the Martyr’s Graveyard at Eidgah to offer funeral of three people including senior Hurriyat (M) leader Sheikh Abdul Aziz.
The funeral was led by Imam Hai of Jamia Masjid, Sayeed Ahmed Syed.
Flanked by the thousands of people, Hurriyat (G) Chairman Syed Ali Geelani, Hurriyat (M) Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and JKLF Chairman, Muhammad Yaseen Malik also managed to reach Martyrs Graveyard Eidgah amid pro-freedom and pro-Pakistan slogans.

Besides, prayers for the three slain, special prayers in absentia were also offered for all those who were killed since Monday.
Breaching the security cover, scores of people reached Geelani’s Hyderpora residence and Mirwaiz’s Nigeen residence and accompanied them to the Martyr’s Graveyard. Both the leaders were under house arrest.
Later, Aziz, Ghulam Hassan Shangla, a resident of Rainawari, who was killed earlier Tuesday morning and a resident of Zoonimar, Muhammad Rafiq were buried next to each other amid tears and sobs.
Addressing a massive gathering at the Martyrs Graveyard, Hurriyat (M) Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said Aziz was not killed in Police firing but he was deliberately targeted to weaken the Hurriyat.
“Aziz was a strong pillar of Hurriyat. He was brutally murdered. We are not going to buy the police claim that he was killed in cross firing. He was made a soft target,” Mirwaiz said.
He asked people to continue protests till August 14 and to observe August 15 as a black day to mark the protest against “unjustified Indian aggression”.
Terming the killings of Kashmiri people a “worst form of Indian terrorism”, Mirwaiz said: “We (both factions of Hurriyat Conference, JKLF, traders and chamber of commerce) stand united at this crucial stage. People should follow the directions and no action should be taken unless a program for that is announced by us.”
Mirwaiz informed that the senior Hurriyat (M) leader Shabir Shah, who was leading the ‘Muzaffarabad March’ along with the slain Hurriyat leader Sheikh Aziz, was missing. “We don’t know where Shah is. Who knows whether, he (Shah) too might have been killed,” Mirwaiz said.
“In case BJP sticks to its August 14 mass agitation and blockade call, we will cross all points leading to Muzaffarabad,” he said.
Hurriyat (G) Chairman, Syed Ali Geelani extended full support to Mirwaiz and said, “I would like to add two things to what Mirwaiz already said. People should hoist black flags on their houses on August 15 and from 8 pm to 9 pm observe a complete black out.”
Geelani said that the people should take care of the life and property of non-Muslim brethren living here. “Besides Jehlum Valley Road should be thrown open and Mughal Road constructed immediately,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, JKLF Chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik said that people’s power is stronger than any military might.
Malik said: “We have to be disciplined enough to achieve our ultimate goal of freedom.”
Meanwhile, hundreds of women were offering cold drinks to the marchers outside Eidgah.
Children of the Tibet Colony outside Eidgah were seen carrying water glasses and giving them to the processionists who had come all the way from Budgam, Ganderbal, Tangmarg, Beerwah and almost all nook and corners of the Valley.
Thousands of people from Tangmarg and Beerwah reached Eidgah after the funeral prayers because of the blockades laid by police and troopers at various places. The residents offered them food and tea and invited them to stay at their houses here in Srinagar.
The people also hoisted Pakistan flag at the Martyrs Graveyard and raised pro-freedom, pro-Pakistan and anti-Indian slogans.