Separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani to honour Burhan Wani with medal

Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, who was killed in an encounter in July, will now be honoured with the Tamga-e-Azeemat (Medal of Greatness) for his “dedication, sincerity and bravery”, announced Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani, according to Kashmir Reader. The report added that this is the first time in the history of the armed resistance in the Kashmir Valley that a militant was honoured with a medal by a pro-freedom group. [caption id=“attachment_2914958” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Syed Ali Geelani. PTI[/caption] “His martyrdom has added a new life to the ongoing freedom struggle in Jammu and Kashmir. He has united and strengthened the pro-freedom voice of this troubled state and the entire nation is feeling pride in paying tributes to this Great Mujahid,” Geelani was quoted as saying. Geelani also said that it is the duty of other Muslim countries to support the people of the Valley. Meanwhile, fresh protests broke out in Kashmir on Wednesday after the killing of two more civilians, including an ATM booth guard who was found dead, with hundreds of pellets fired from close range, officials and residents said. In an earlier interview with _IANS_, Geelani had blamed “pro-Indian forces and the Indian government for creating Burhan Wanis”. “India shows no respect for humanity, fundamental rights of Kashmiris,” he said. “The government has not allowed democratic forces to flourish. I am under house arrest since 2010. We are not allowed to meet people. India has unleashed a reign of terror,” he added. Voices of the separatists leader grew louder after violence erupted in the Valley. Separatists leaders apart from Geelani, head of moderate faction Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik had started an agitation after the death of Burhan Wani to protest against the civilian deaths. The separatist leaders had also asked the people, particularly youths, to express their sentiments by writing pro-freedom slogans on roads, walls and shop shutters. Umar Farooq  had said that blaming Pakistan for the unrest in Kashmir is “is so worn out and half-witted that it does not even warrant a response”. He had said that the “Kashmiri struggle for freedom like all freedom struggles in the world is both indigenous and sacred”. In many parts of Kashmir, Burhan Wani was considered a hero. Decoding Burhan Wani, David Devadas had written, “Fresh-faced youthfulness was vital to Wani’s rockstar persona. Even while he became a heroic ideal, he remained ‘one of us’.” With inputs from agencies