Suicide bomber’s funeral sans body

PULWAMA : The family and relatives of Adil Ahmad Dar, the suspected suicide bomber who rammed an explosive-laden SUV into a security convoy, killing 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel at Lethpora area in Pulwama, held a funeral on Friday without any body.

All the shops lining the road leading to Dar’s village in Kakapora area of Pulwama were shut and security forces had laid a blockade a few kilometres ahead of the village to stop vehicles from moving towards the village. Despite the restrictions, hundreds of people managed to reach the village and participate in the funeral that was held at a nearby school ground. “We had never imagined this. When the news about Adil came out, we still could not believe it,” said Sameer Ahmad, 22, a cousin of Dar.

“We did not get any body or body parts. Police said there is nothing to give. There is no grave,” he said.

Ghulam Hassan Dar said his son was a simple boy. “He was very religious and would often help his mother in her work,” he said. As more people started to gather, Adil Dar’s mother raised religious slogans.