Ultra’s body reaches home on sister’s wedding day

We were busy with the preparations for the marriage when we received his body. We are busy with his funeral now. WASEEM, slain militant’s cousin

was Rubeena’s wedding day when her militant brother’s mortal remains reached her home on Tuesday and the celebrations instantly turned into mourning.

Liyaqat Ahmad Lone alias Sahaba alias Umar Khalid, a Lashkar-e-Taiba militant, was killed along with his associate Furqan Rashid Lone in a gunfight with security forces at Galoora area of Langate in north Kashmir’s Handwara on Monday night.

The incident took place when Liyaqat’s family was preparing for the wedding at his home in Harwan, Sopore.

“We were not aware about the encounter. In the morning, villagers came to tell us about his death,” Rubeena said as she was surrounded by a group of grieving women.

“We were busy with the preparations for the marriage when we received his body. We are busy with his funeral now,” said Waseem Ahmad, a cousin of Liyaqat while trying to control his emotions.

A villager was more emphatic about the situation.

“Liyaqat’s younger brother brought home his bride on Monday. The family’s happiness turned into grief instantly. This is Kashmir,” he said.

Liyaqat, who is survived by his wife, a toddler and two school-going children, had left home some six months back to join Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

His family alleged that he had surrendered in 2002 and was “forced to join militancy again due to the harassment he faced at the hands of security forces all these years”.

Javaid Iqbal, superintendent of police, Sopore, said that Liyaqat used to work with militants before he formally went underground 5-6 months back.

A police spokesperson said arms and ammunition were also recovered from the site of encounter.

He said that Liyaqat was wanted in a number of criminal cases, including kidnapping and rape of a minor local girl at Bomai in 2017.

He also said that Liyaqat along with two other LeT militants, was involved in the murder of Hakim-ur-Rehman Sultani, a Hurriyat activist who was killed in Bomai on Saturday.

Furqan Rashid Lone alias Adil, was a resident of Shartpora, Langate, was also wanted in a number of criminal cases.

Rubeena’s family postponed the wedding following the death of Liyaqat Ahmad Lone.