UNIDENTIFIED GUNMEN KILL LOCAL, MILITANT

SRINAGAR: A civilian and an alleged member of the Islamic State were killed by unidentified gunmen in separate incidents here, police said on Saturday. A 42-year-old man, identified as Hakim ur Rehman, was shot while he was outside his house in north Kashmir’s Bomia village, said police. “Hakim received critical bullet injuries and was rushed to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to his injuries,’’ a police spokesperson said, adding that militants were suspected to be behind the killing. A case has been launched to identify the killers, the official said. Locals said Hakim was affiliated with the Hurriyat Conference and was recently released from the jail after serving a long detention. Later in the day, a large number of villagers participated in Hakim’s funeral and raised pro-freedom slogans. In the second incident, unidentified men attacked one Asif Nazir

Dar of Panzgam Awantipore. Police have recovered a pistol from the spot and a “fake” student identity card. Officials said Bhat was affiliated with Zakir Musa group and could have been killed by a rival. “He was active for the last two years...,” an officer said, adding that his family has identified the body. MIR EHSAN

Mehbooba demands exemplary punishment for Baramulla accused

SRINAGAR: Former CM Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday termed the rape and murder of a nine-year-old girl in Baramulla district as shocking and demanded exemplary punishment for the culprits, including the minor’s stepmother and stepbrother. Mufti visited the victim’s family in north Kashmir’s Boniyar area and expressed sorrow over the brutal incident, a PDP spokesperson said.