Jammu and Kashmir paramilitary soldier cremated with full state honours

Srinagar/ Jammu, Mar 25 (ANI): Shabir Ahmed Malik, a solider of the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry paramilitary trooper, who was killed in a five-day-long gunbattle in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district, was cremated here on Tuesday with full state honours.

Shops and business establishments remained closed in Srinagar on Tuesday to pay tribute to Malik.

Malik's family and friends said that he followed his passion of joining the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry and wanted to be a role model.

"He had a passion and enthusiasm to do something for his country. We are proudof him, but at the same time we are in grief too," said an unidentified mourner.

Meanwhile, the gunbattle between militants and security forces inside the Hafrada forest seems to have ended on Tuesday evening.

The encounter, which is continuing since March 20, has claimed the lives of seventeen militants and eight security personnel. On Tuesday, six more militants were killed.

Four soldiers and five militants were killed on Monday while an ultra died a day before.

On Saturday, four troops, including Major Mohit Sharma, and two militants were killed.

On the first day, three militants were shot down by the security forces.

The militants had sneaked into Kupwara as the dense forest range is close to the Line of Control (LoC).

On receiving information about militant infiltration in the forest area, the Army, assisted by local police had acted promptly and launched a gunbattle.

Commenting on this, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said there was a need to maintain constant vigil. (ANI)