Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) chief Mehmood Shah has paid tribute to militants Umari Majid, Waseem Ahmed, Mushtaq Ahmed Mir, Abbas Ahmed Bhatt, Khalid Farooq Malak, and Dr Saifullah killed on Sunday in a gunfight with forces in Shopian.

A spokesperson of LeT Dr Abdullah Ghaznavi in a statement issued to GNS quoted Shah as saying, “These martyrdoms are a significant part of the indigenous freedom struggle. The 70 companions of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) attained martyrdom in Battle of Uhud and the Prophet (PBUH) himself was injured which is evident to the truth that Islam does demand sacrifices.”

“Patience in the battlefield against the occupational and tyrant forces renders great successes. The martyrs of Kashmir are reviving the same spirits as of the Battle of Uhud. Allah (SWT) blessed Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and His companions with victory at the end in the Battle of Uhud, it was because of their utmost patience and because of the fact that they stood steadfast in the battle,” Mehmood Shah said.

LeT chief thanked people for their “unmatched love for freedom fighters” and said that “such sacrifices, emotions, and symbols of support are a true asset”.

“We are proud of our honorable people. But we still have to face many conspiracies of the enemy together. The grand conspiracy of the enemy at this time against youth is to indulge them in lewdness in the name of culture. Social media is being used as an integral part of this vicious goal,” he said.

“We must ask for our forgiveness from Allah (SWT). The parents must take immense care in bringing up their children. They must have their children married as soon as they reach puberty. Doing so will positively impact the society and will shower immense blessings from Allah (SWT),” Mehmood Shah said.

Life across Valley remained affected on Monday due to a shutdown called by the joint resistance leadership (JRL) against the “brutal killings of about 18 Kashmiris in last 3 days and injuries to hundreds by indiscriminate use of bullets, pellets and other oppressive measures by Indian forces”.

Reports reaching GNS said that all shops and business establishments remained closed in major towns including the summer capital Srinagar, while the public transport was thin in response to the shutdown call. There was also a thin attendance of employees in government offices, reports said.

The stringent security measures were put in place in most parts of the areas in downtown here and other sensitive parts across south Kashmir.

However, despite heightened security, groups of youth hit streets at footbridge Parimpora, Keunsoo Bandipora, Chotabazar, Karanagar, Sabzi Mandi Soura, Shah Mohalla Nawabazar, Police Station Sopore and other places and staged pro-freedom demonstrations, witnesses told GNS.

The protesters pelted stones on government forces who responded by lobbing tear smoke shells to disperse the youth. However, no one was reported seriously hurt in the pitched battles that continued for several hours, they said.

Reports from south Kashmir said that paramilitary CRPF men and police were deployed in strength in the four districts of Pulwama, Shopian, Kulgam and Anantnag to prevent people from holding protests, even as all commercial establishments remained closed.

With apprehensions of protests against the killings, the train service between Srinagar to Banihal and Srinagar to Baramulla was suspended on Monday.

Bandipora: At least five persons were injured when a passenger bus met with an accident in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district on Sunday.

Reports reaching KNO said that a passenger bus, bearing registration number JK01C 7451, was travelling from Srinagar to Hajin when it met with an accident at Shahtulpora area of Sumbal North kashmir’s Bandipora district on Sunday.

Five passengers were injured in the accident. All the injured were shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment.