Kin of slain men in Hyderpora encounter cry foul, seek bodies

Srinagar, November 17

Families of two civilians, who were on Monday killed in the Hyderpora encounter in Srinagar, held a protest here on Wednesday, demanding “justice” for the victims and said their bodies should be handed over to them.

A Pakistani terrorist and his local associate Mohammad Amir, along with two civilians — Altaf Bhat and Mudassir Gul — were killed in the encounter. Altaf Bhat owned a commercial building and Gul ran a business there. The police had said both were overground workers for terrorists.

No terror link

As a namberdar, I remain in touch with police personnel. They would have told me if my brother was involved in militancy. —Abdul Majeed, Brother of slain altaf bhat

No accountability

Since the AFSPA is in force, there has been no accountability for killings. The cruel government is not giving bodies. —Mehbooba Mufti, PDP president

It’s inhuman

To vilify them as militants or OGWs is bad enough but to forcibly bury the bodies is a crime against humanity. —Omar Abdullah, NC vice president

On Wednesday, the families of Bhat and Gul held a protest at Press Enclave, demanding that their bodies be returned to them as they were not militants or OGWs.

The police had said the bodies of all the four killed were buried in the Handwara area of Kupwara. Speaking to reporters, Altaf Bhat’s brother Abdul Majeed said as a namberdar (revenue official), he remains in constant touch with the police and they would have informed him if his brother was involved in militancy.

Mudassir Gul’s wife Humaira Mudassir said his husband was innocent.

Meanwhile, National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah said the civilians were killed because they were put in harm’s way.

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti led a protest here and sought release of bodies to the families. She said since the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) has been in force, there has been no accountability for the killings of the innocents. A strong posse of policemen stopped the protesters from moving towards the main road.

NC president Farooq Abdullah sought the intervention of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha in handing over the bodies. Prohibitory orders banning the gathering of five or more people at one place have been imposed in some villages of Ramban district following the death Mohammad Amir, who was from Famrote village in Ramban. In an apparent move to scuttle protests, Ramban Additional District Magistrate Harbans Lal Sharma ordered the prohibitory orders from 9 am Wednesday till further orders. — PTI