He said in case the Pak High Commission denies that the slain Lashkar commander was a Pakistani national, he would be buried as per the proper Islamic rituals. “We will give him a proper burial,” he said.

For the first time in the past 27 years, the Jammu and Kashmir police have approached the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, asking it to claim the body of Lashkar-e-Toiba commander Abu Dujana, a Pakistani national, for his burial at his native place. Dujana and his associate Arif Nabi Dar alias Arif Lelhari were killed in a gunfight at Hakdipora village in Pulwama district on Tuesday.

“We have approached Pakistan High Commission and will ask them to take the possession of Dujana’s body. Everybody knows he was a Pakistani national,” Kashmir range inspector general of police, Muneer Khan told Greater Kashmir. “Let them (Pakistan) claim the body of Dujana. Let his parents see him before burial,” the IGP said.

He said in case the Pak High Commission denies that the slain Lashkar commander was a Pakistani national, he would be buried as per the proper Islamic rituals. “We will give him a proper burial,” he said.

Asked whether Dujana would be laid to rest in Uri area of Baramulla district as has been the practice of police with non-local militants over the past few years, Khan evaded a direct response, saying: “He will be given proper burial in case his country denies he was their national.”