Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) poster boy and commander, Burhan Muzaffar Wani, was killed on Friday by Indian Army in an encounter. Two of his accomplices were neutralised too in Kashmir on Friday. 

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Wani was allegedly instrumental in brainwashing many local boys to join militancy. 

However, Wani's death triggered protests in south Kashmir and on Saturday, at least three were dead in a clash between security forces and violent mobs. Five buildings including police installations and some vehicles were set ablaze in the protest. 

Thousands gathered for the funeral of Wani held at Eidgah in Tral town of Jammu and Kashmir. 

Here is all you need to know about the 21-year-old Wani whose death triggered protests in Kashmir:

1) JOINED MILITANCY AT THE AGE OF 15

Wani became a part of militancy at the age of 15 in 2010. In 2011, he joined Hizbul Mujahideen. Wani is believed to have joined militancy to avenge the humiliation faced by his elder brother who was picked up by the security forces for apparently no reason and then made to do squats.  Wani carried a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh on his head. 

2) WANI'S BROTHER WAS KILLED BY SECURITY FORCES

According to reports, last year, one of Wani's brothers, Khalid, was killed by the Indian Army because he was a militant sympathiser and had taken his friends to get them recruited by the militants.  

3) BUDDING CRICKETER

Wani was considered to be a budding cricketer before he turned to militancy. He belonged to a well-to-do family; his father was the headmaster of a government school. Wani was a school dropout himself. 

4) SOCIAL MEDIA SAVVY

Wani enjoyed great attention on social media. He happens to be the one to have introduced a new wave of tech-savy militants who used social media platform to find recruits. Several images of Wani and posts extolling him were uploaded on social networking sites like Facebook which the security agencies had got removed but that did not dent his popularity.

5) RELEASED VIDEOS TO INFLUENCE YOUTHS

Wani released videos that influenced Kashmiri youths to take up the gun. Videos featuring him with weapons and appealing to the local boys were circulated heavily on Facebook and WhatsApp.

6) IN HIS LAST VIDEO, WANI THREATENED OF MORE ATTACKS

Wani's last video had appeared on the social network after the killing of three policemen at Anantnag in South Kashmir last month in which he had threatened to carry out more attacks.

7) ENJOYED LOCALS' SUPPORT

Wani also received immense support from the locals which is proven in the number of people who have turned up on his funeral.

AFP Photo

(With Agency Inputs)