AT LEAST 10,000 people are believed to have attended the funeral of India’s “most wanted” terrorist Zakir Musa today, who was killed in Indian-administrated Kashmir on Thursday.

The Indian army was preparing for a backlash, after it revealed that Mr Musa was killed by soldiers while trapped in a house in the Tral district of Kashmir.

In a brief statement confirming his death, the army said: “Op Dadasur (Pulwama). One terrorist killed. Terrorist identified as Zakir Musa. Weapons and warlike stores recovered. Operation over.”

Protests in the Muslim-majority state followed the announcement, and fears of renewed violence escalated with tensions between India and Pakistan running high.

Clashes with police were reported from early this morning, as people chanted Mr Musa’s name. Mourners were attacked with tear gas as they threw stones in retaliation.

Kashmir closed down schools, colleges and universities, while mobile internet services were also shut across the region to prevent people from mobilising for protests.

Police chief Dilbagh Singh said: “The shutdown of internet services, schools and colleges will depend on the situation. We will review the situation in the evening.”

Mr Singh confirmed that Mr Musa had died in a gun battle in a two-storey civilian house.

“He was affiliated to the Ansar Ghawzat-ul-Hind [terrorist group]. His burial has been completed and the situation is peaceful as of now,” he said.

“We are taking all the precautions in terms of law and order. The militant was involved in many terrorist activities.”

Born Zakir Rashid Bhat, Mr Musa was an engineering student before taking up arms against Indian rule over Kashmir in 2013, aged 19. 

He was close to Kashmiri militant leader Burhan Wani, whose 2016 killing sparked widespread protests.

Mr Musa split from Hizbul Mojahedin in 2017 and declared his allegiance to al-Qaida affiliate Ansar, becoming its leader in Kashmir.

He was branded India’s “most wanted man.”

At least 10,000 people braved driving rain to attend a funeral procession in his home town of Tral, southern Kashmir.

Tensions remain high between India and Pakistan, which have each claimed sovereignty over Kashmir since partition more than 70 years ago.

India blames Pakistan for fuelling militants in the region, an allegation that Islamabad denies. 

However, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stoked tensions with anti-Muslim rhetoric during the recent election campaign.