Kashmiri activist cautions against handing over Burhan Wani's body to family
09 Jul 2016
The body of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani and two other militants shot dead by Indian security forces on Friday should not be handed over to their families and instead be given a terrorists' funeral, Kashmiri activist Sushil Pandit has warned.
While congratulating the Indian security forces for the shooting down of the dreaded terrorist, Pandit requested the government not to hand over his body to his family, warning that it may inspire many more Wanis.
''It's a great piece of news and I must congratulate the security forces for the kill. Now, my only worry is that the government should not hand over his body to the family, as after that they will plan a frenzied funeral. Please don't do that because if you do that, then you will create several new Burhan Wanis. There should not be a public funeral of a terrorist and he should not become a dead hero,'' ANI quoted Pandit as saying.
Wani, 21, the poster boy of Kashmiri militants who carried a reward of Rs10 lakh, was on Friday shot along with two accomplices, in Kokernag area, 83 km from Srinagar.
''Indian Jawans are fighting a brave battle with great risks to their lives and its moment of great joy and victory for them. I congratulate them,'' Pandit said.
Wani's death is a breakthrough for our Army and security forces, he added.
Born to a well-off family in Tral in the southern part of Kashmir, Wani joined the Hizbul Mujahideen at the age of 15.
Son of a school principal and a school dropout, Wani was the main recruiter who brainstormed many local boys to take up the path of militancy.
In May this year, Wani's close aide Tariq Pandita, surrendered before security forces in south Kashmir
Meanwhile, the All Party Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Geelani and separatist leader Asiya Andrabi called for a complete state wide shutdown on Saturday and appealed to the people to participate in his funeral prayers in large numbers.
Geelani also appealed to the people to hold funeral prayers in-absentia for Wani at their respective places who could not reach Tral.
