A complete shutdown was observed in Bijbehara township of Anantnag district on Tuesday to commemorate the first death anniversary of three Hizbul Mujahideen militants who were killed in a gunfight in Awoora village of Pahalgam here last year.
Three militants hailed from Bijbehara area were Aadil Ahmad Reshi of Bijbehara town, Abid Ahmad Sheikh of Satkipora village and Masood Ahmad Shah of Bewoora village.
25-year old Aadil Reshi, a graduate, belonged to well-off business family of Bijbehara town had joined militant ranks in 2014 while Abid Sheikh, aged 21 and a 10+2 pass out and Masood, aged 29, remained active for more than 2 years.
Shops and other business establishments remained closed in Bijbehara town while public transport was off the roads. Many villages—Srigufwara, Wubzan, Mahand and Dachnipora villages also observed shutdown. Busy Bijbehara-Pahalagam route wore deserted look due to shut down.
Hundreds of people visited the graveyards of slain militants and offered Fateha and prayers for them. Later, many people were seen visiting the residences of the slain militants to pay them tributes.