Former militant gunned down in Kashmir

A former militant was on Monday gunned down by unidentified men in north Kashmir's Sopore town, police said.

"Unidentified gunmen today (Monday) fired at Aijay Ahmad Reshi from close range in Mundji area of Sopore town. He later died of critical bullet injuries," a senior police officer told IANS here.

Last week, unidentified gunmen killed three people closely associated with Syed Ali Geelani, chairman of the hardline Hurriyat group.

Markets in Sopore town were shut down on Monday after the news of the killing spread.

Both private and public transport remained off the roads as groups of stone pelting youths clashed with the security forces.

Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, chairman of the moderate Hurtiyat group, has alleged that these killings are part of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar's statement that militants would now be neutralised with the help of militants.