Kashmir irony: While thousands mourn Hizbul terrorist, handful attend martyred cop's funeral

It’s an irony of sorts when it comes to funerals in Jammu & Kashmir – at least from what the news reports. In a case of two contrasting funerals in South Kashmir, a Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist was mourned by thousands, while barely a few kilometres away, a policeman, who sacrificed his life in the same terrorist attack, was mourned by his family and fellow-colleagues, according to an NDTV report.

According to PTI, a group of militants, carrying arms in their hands, gave a gun salute to their slain associate during his funeral.

Police officer Azhar Mehmood and three civilians were killed in the attack by four Hizbul militants, including Fayaz, the lone terrorist who was killed. According to the report, the policemen came under attack while they were regulating traffic after a road accident. Sources say the terrorists first tried to snatch away the guns from the policemen. Mehmood, who had grabbed a terrorist by the throat, died when the other terrorists opened fire.

Police said Fayaz Ahmad Aishwar - who was involved in the attack on the Border Security Forces camp in Udhampur in 2015 - carried a reward of Rs. 2 lakh on his head. But he was just one of the terrorists whose funeral had been attended by thousands over the last months. Last year, the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani had seen five-month long unrest in the Kashmir Valley.

Mehmood had with police for the last eight years. He is survived by two children, one just eight month old, and his wife.