Awantipora (Pulwama), Mar 21: A complete shutdown was observed on Sunday to bemoan the death of Hizbul-Mujahideen commander, Parvaiz Ahmed Dar alias Musharraf, killed in gunfight with troops. 
As soon as the police handed over Dar’s body to his family, hundreds of people rushed to his native village in Malangpora to participate in his last rites. Amid pro-freedom slogans people carried the coffin of the deceased militant to the Awantipora stadium where his funeral prayers were held. Later he was laid to rest in the local graveyard.
Shops and business establishments remained closed while the traffic remained off the roads.
Pervez was killed in an encounter with army’s 55-RR and 3-RR along with police on Saturday night .Commanding officer of 3RR was also injured in the ensuing gun fight that lasted for about 6 hours.
The body of slain commander was retrieved early on Sunday morning.
“We had suspended the operation on Saturday night as the only holed up militant was killed. In the morning search was carried out and the body of the militant was retrieved from the debris,” said Superintendent of Police, Awantipora, Bashir Ahmad Khan.
He said that an AK rifle, two magazines, a pistol and some rounds were also recovered from the encounter site.
The army had on Saturday claimed that the militant had been active in the area since 1997.
“One of the residential houses was completely razed to ground in the mortar fired by the troopers while other nearby house also suffered extensive damage,” residents said adding that window panes of several houses were also damaged.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 21 Mar 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 21 Mar 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 22 Mar 2010 00:00:00 IST