Curfew during funeral of JeI leader

Kishtwar, September 16

To stop huge congregation of people at the funeral procession of a senior Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI), leader Ghulam Nabi Gundna, at Kishtwar today, curfew was imposed in the town last night by the administration.

The decision of imposing curfew was taken to maintain the law and order and it was relaxed in the afternoon.

Gundna had died after prolonged illness at a Ludhiana hospital and his mortal remains were brought to his home in Masjid Mohalla, Kishtwar town, last evening. The septuagenarian leader was also associated with the Hurriyat Conference.

The family had fixed his funeral prayers at 11 am today, so in apprehension of any protest, the administration had imposed the curfew and people were told to stay indoors. Family members were told to offer the funeral prayers at Jamia Masjid and this morning at the stipulated time prayers were held at Jamia Masjid, Kishtwar, where only locals could participate.

“After offering prayers, people took the body to graveyard and tried to enter the Chowgan ground, the place where usually funeral processions are held, but the administration and police didn’t allow them to enter the ground. Thereafter, second funeral prayers were held outside the Chowgan ground on road and the body was taken for burial,” a relative of Gundna said. — TNS