Omar Abdullah on Burhan Wani: He is the new ‘icon’ of disaffected community

By Friday night, protesters had gathered along the Srinagar-Anantnag highway, burning tyres and stopping vehicles, and funeral prayers were offered for the slain militants in several areas. Announcements were also made on public address systems with youths raising slogans in support of Wani.

The valley is on a boil since Friday as separatist leaders including Syed Ali Geelani and Asiya Andrabi have called for a state-wide shutdown and urged people to participate in the slain militant’s funeral.

Burhan Wani

Abdullah had earlier, on Friday, tweeted that he could not find Wani’s link with any kind of militancy during his term in the office.

Mark my words – Burhan’s ability to recruit in to militancy from the grave will far outstrip anything he could have done on social media.

— Omar Abdullah (@abdullah_omar) July 9, 2016

Alas Burhan isn’t the 1st to pick up the gun & won’t be the last. @JKNC_ has always maintained that a political problem needs pol. solution

— Omar Abdullah (@abdullah_omar) July 8, 2016

Wani was infamous for using internet and other platforms to motivate young Kashmiris to join militancy. He had also threatened an attack on Kashmiri Pandits if they were brought back and rehabilitated in Sainik colonies.

Wani made the headlines in 2014 for the photographs he had posted on social media of himself and other militants wearing army fatigues and carrying Kalashnikovs. Officials said he led a group of 11 to 15 local militants based in the forests of South Kashmir and carried a reward of Rs 10 lakh on his head.

(With inputs from Mir Ehsan in Srinagar)