Families seek bodies of three ‘militants' killed in Srinagar encounter

Srinagar, January 4 

Families of three alleged militants killed in an encounter with security forces at Parimpora on the outskirts of the city last week on Monday demanded the return of their bodies and a fair investigation into the incident.

According to security forces, Ajaz Maqbool Ganai, Zubair Ahmad Lone and Athar Mushtaq Wani were killed in an encounter on December 31. Police said while they were not listed as terrorists in their records, two of them had “radical” thoughts.

Holding placards that read "we want justice" and "stop killing innocents", the relatives of the slain youths held a protest demonstration on Residency Road here, demanding that their bodies be handed over to them so that they can perform their last rites.

The families also demanded a fair investigation into the incident, which they allege was a fake encounter.

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah were among several mainstream politicians who called for returning the bodies to their families. --- PTI