Shopian family visits grave of militant commander Burhan Koka in Sonmarg

Ganderbal, May 28, KNT: Family members of a top slain militant commander visited his grave in Sonmarg area of Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.

Ansar Ghazwatul Hind Chief for Kashmir Valley, Burhan Majid Koka was killed in a gun fight with combined forces in his native village Melhora Shopian in the last week of April this year. Two associates of Koka were also killed in the gunfight.

Koka was buried by authorities at Sonmarg grave yard that reportedly belongs to Gujjar and Bakarwal.

Sources told news agency KNT that nine family members of Burhan Koka, including two children visited the grave yard and offered prayers for him on his grave.

Sources added that after offering Fath-e-Khwani at his grave, the family left for home.

After the enforcement of lockdown in Kashmir Valley, authorities in a bid to maintain social distancing and keep large crowds way from funeral processions, started burying slain militants in hinterlands. Even a civilian killed in Handwara in ‘cross-fire’ was buried away from his home in presence of his family members. (KNT)