‘Credible’ probe into Hyderpora encounter demanded as eyewitnesses say victims were used as human shield

Srinagar: The Hyderpora encounter has snowballed into a major controversy, with the families of two of the perosns killed in the encounter claiming their kins had no involvement in militancy, and they were used as human shields, a claim ensorsed by eye witnesses. Detention of the family members for demanding bodies of the victims has further enraged the local population.

Kashmiri political leaders Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufi have demanded immediate release of the detainees and condemned the security authorities for what they called use of the victims as human shield in the encounter. Human Rights Watch, the international rights advocacy group headquartered in the US, has condemned the killing of the two civilians and demanded an indepedent probe into the encounter.

On November 17, government forces forcefully detained the family members of slain Altaf Ahmad Bhat who were protesting by carrying out a candlelight vigil outside Srinagar’s Press Enclave demanding authorities for the return of the dead body.

“Come and shoot me as well… See what these terrorists have done to us… How are you going to answer God!” tormented family members shout in agony, as they are forcefully detained in the police vehicle under the dark.

Meanwhile,tThe J&K government on Thursday ordered a magisterial inquiry in the Hyderpora encounter in which police said four persons, including a Pakistani terrorist and his accomplice were killed.

J&K Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha in a tweet stated that after the report is submitted suitable action will be taken in a time bound manner.

The families of Altaf Ahmad and Mudassir Gul killed during the encounter insist that they had no involvement in militancy and demanded that the bodies of the two be returned to them.

On November 15, police claimed in an initial statement to have killed two militants after a gunfight ensued in the uptown Hyderpora area of Srinagar. Quoting a source and digital evidence, Kashmir Police Zone stated that while the building owner Altaf Ahmad was injured in the militant fire, succumbed to injuries. However, following the incident several eyewitnesses refused the police version adding that both of the civilians (identified as 43-year-old Altaf Ahmad and 40-year-old Mudasir Gul) were used as “human shields” by the government forces before being killed in the gunfight.

As a nearby shopkeeper Nazir Ahmad stated “Altaf and Mudasir were with us when almost 40 shopkeepers were withheld by security in a showroom. The police warned they would pump bullets inside us if we failed to comply.” Afterwards, policemen called both Altaf and Mudasir outside for never to return, he said.

“Instead of handing over mortal remains of the innocent civilians, police has arrested the family members for demanding the bodies of their loved ones. Unbelievably ruthless and insensitive. Least they can do is return the mortal remains immediately,” former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti tweeted: “Using innocent civilians as human shields, getting them killed in cross-firing and then conveniently labelling them as OGWs (over ground workers)s is part of GOIs (government of India) rulebook now. Imperative that a credible judicial enquiry is done to bring out the truth and put an end to this rampant culture of impunity,” she added.

“Under which law it is written that before informing the family, they can bury the dead body. We were not even informed when they buried my uncle. At least they could have shown us his face for the one last time. When we visited the office of IG Police we were told they buried him somewhere in Handwara,” senior journalist Saima Bhat, who is also Altaf’s niece, stated. “You killed my innocent uncle Mohammad Altaf Bhat in cold blooded murder In Hyderpora, you used him as human shield and now saying he was “OGW”. return us his body.”

Third person killed has been identified as Amir Ahmad from south Kashmir’s Banihal. According to shopkeepers from the area, he worked as an office attendant at Mudasir Gul’s office, where the encounter was carried out.

Police statement

According to IGP Kashmir, Vijay Kumar, the security establishment had inputs about the presence of two to three militants in the area but were not sure of the exact location: “The CRPF and Army cordoned off the area and carried out door-to-door searches. There was a militant present in Altaf’s property who had locked one room from inside. He began to fire indiscriminately from a pistol and our search party also fired back in self-defence and an encounter ensued. It became difficult to evacuate civilians who had received bullet injuries,” he said.

The police officer, however, accused Mudasir Gul of being involved in militancy and alleged he had militant links, a claim that his family vehemently denied later: “Our brother is innocent, we just want his body back. After having breakfast he had left home. His office is in Hyderpora and when we heard about the encounter in the area we tried to call him but his phone was switched off. We don’t know what happened after,” Mudasir’s younger sister said.

“He was working as a businessman but ran a terrorist module and harboured militants, but we regret that he died in the cross-firing,” the IGP insisted, Mudasir had aided one of the militants during a recent attack in which a policeman was shot in the neck in the Downtown area. “Mudasir drove him back from the spot and sheltered him at his office,” Vijay added.

Meanwhile, the protesting wife of Mudasir, denied the allegations categorically stressing he had no militant links and was being “framed”. “If they (police) show me any evidence that he was an overground worker, they should first shoot me and my one-year daughter. No one will bother them afterwards. I am just asking please show me my husband’s dead body,” she lamented.

“Mudasir was not a militant. I appeal that his body be returned to us. We are convinced today that they (police) are killing innocents…they are killing innocent civilians,” another relative of Mudasir said during a demonstration at Srinagar’s Press Enclave. Mudasir, a dental surgeon, had rented office space from Altaf and ran a real estate business. Altaf, who owns the two-floor property, ran a hardware business and worked as a builder.

“Around 10 PM my uncle received a call. I was really scared and I was praying to god. They took him three times there on the spot. He was killed the third time. When I asked them (police) why did you kill my father, they laughed shamelessly to which I had no response,” Altaf’s youngest daughter said.

—India News Stream