Three young men were killed in Srinagar in the early hours of Wednesday in an “encounter”, with the army and police claiming they were terrorists planning a major attack along the Srinagar-Baramulla highway. Shortly after the men’s photos surfaced on social media, the families came forward claiming that all three were innocent and had no ties to militants.
According to J&K police, Zubair Ahmad of Shopian, and Ajaz Ahmad Ganai and Athar Mushtaq of Pulwama were “staunch” militant associates, although they admitted that their names were not on the terrorist list. Ahaz was the son of a policeman. IGP, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar said they were investigating the case and “will come to a conclusion soon.”
While the first statement attributed the encounter to a joint operation by the police, the Army and the CRPF, later on Wednesday, the police said they had later joined the CRPF.
The false encounter allegations come four days after J&K police filed a charge sheet against an army officer and two civilians for the murder of three Rajouri workers in another such encounter, at Shopian in July. Then, too, the police had said that they were acting on the basis of contributions from the Army.
On Tuesday night, security personnel cordoned off a house located outside the Hokersar wetland in Srinagar. The forces claimed that the three men hiding inside opened fire on them, triggering an “encounter” that continued intermittently throughout the night. On Wednesday, the police and the army claimed to have killed three “terrorists”.
“For the past few days, intelligence information about the movement of militants on the national highway (Srinagar-Baramulla) has been arriving. Yesterday we developed clues and found out that the militants are hiding in a house, ”said General Commanding Officer (GoC), Kilo Force, H Sahi at a press conference. “They were asked to surrender. However, they responded with shots and the operation was suspended for the night. When the operation resumed in the morning, they were again offered surrender. However, they again started firing and throwing grenades at the forces, which gave us an indication that they had no intention of surrendering. “
In the revised statement issued Wednesday night, J&K Police said that around 5.30 pm, “02 RR (Rashtriya Rifles) troops” launched a cordon operation at “a specific entrance”, and were attacked with grenades. and indiscriminate shooting. “Upon receiving this information, the Srinagar police immediately together with the Srinagar police component (Special Operations Group) and Valley QAT (Rapid Action Team) CRPF rushed to the scene.”
As soon as the photos of the youths began to circulate, a family from Pulwama, in southern Kashmir, arrived at the Police Control Room (PCR) in Srinagar, accusing the forces of killing innocent men. “He (Ahaz) had tea with me at 10 am on Tuesday. He said he would go to the Board (Board of School Education), ”said Ajaz’s grandfather, Bashir Ahmad Gasnai, claiming that he was dragged out of a car and shot. “Why did they kill my son? What did he do? We need answers. “Ajaz’s police father is stationed in Ganderbal in central Kashmir.
The Ganais soon joined the protest outside the RCP by another Shopian family. “Please pass me the body of my son. I just need her body, ”a woman lamented.
Zubair’s brother, Irfan Ahmad Lone, said he would speak to the media on Thursday.
Former chief minister and chairman of the PPD, Mehbooba Mufti, demanded that the authorities “clarify” the matter.
IGP Kumar told The Indian Express: “It is true that their names are not mentioned on our terrorist list, but two of them are close associates of terrorists (surface workers) … It was reported that a third could have joined very recently … Also, they were given the opportunity to surrender twice last night and this morning, but they did not give up. “
About the allegations of the families, Kumar said: “Generally the parents have no idea about the activities of these young people… For example, a student from Pulwama who was receiving training in Srinagar was caught on CCTV pressing a grenade. His parents didn’t know. “
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