Srinagar: 3 militants killed, say police; families allege deceased were students

Jammu and Kashmir police on Wednesday morning jointly claimed that three militants hiding in a residential house in Umarabad area on the outskirts of Srinagar had been killed after a lengthy clash.

However, immediately after the claim, the families of Aijaz Maqbool, son of Muhammad Maqbool Ganai, a police head constable by profession, working in Ganderbal district of Central Kashmir, Athar Mushtaq Wani and Zubair Ahmed Lone, who were killed from Pulwama and Shopian districts of south Kashmir, came to Srinagar and staged a sit-in outside the J&K police central control room Has been 'kidnapped' and killed in a 'fake encounter'.

ALSO READ: Shopian fake encounter: Bodies of 3 victims exhumed, families ask for justice

Addressing a joint police-army press conference immediately after the clash, Lt. Gen. HS Sahi, GOC of the Indian Army's Kilo Force, claimed that the presence of armed militants near Umarabad on Tuesday evening was a secret. Upon receiving the report, a joint team of army, police and paramilitary forces cordoned off a residential house.

General Sahi claimed that "the three were planning a major attack on military installations in Srinagar."

However, soon after the announcement, Aijaz Ganai and Athar Wani's family from Pulwama, while Zubair Lone's parents and other relatives from Shopian, outside the police control room in Srinagar, blamed the incident on a 'fake encounter' and the youths killed.

ALSO READ: Shopian ‘fake encounter’: Bodies of 3 labourers being exhumed, handed over to families: IGP

Asiya, sister of Aijaz Ahmed from Putri Gam area of ​​Pulwama, said: I also spoke to my brother at three o'clock in the afternoon, but a few hours later his phone was off. This is a fake clash, we need justice.

Aijaz's grandfather was also present at the protest. He stripped off his clothes in front of the media and fainted, saying, "My support is gone." It may be mentioned that Aijaz's father Maqbool Ganai is a constable attached to Jammu and Kashmir Police.

Athar Mushtaq, a resident of Belo village in Pulwama, was an 11th class student. His cousins ​​said, "He went to Srinagar to look for a hostel for tuition. I drank tea at home on Tuesday morning and left in the afternoon.

Relatives of Zubair Lone, a resident of Travancore in Tukro, Shopian, say he used to work as a laborer. All the relatives are not only demanding an inquiry into the clash but also came to Srinagar to recover the bodies.

ALSO READ: Shopian encounter was fake, DNA samples match with Family: IGP Kashmir

Earlier last month army claimed that the three were armed militants after killing three youths, Abrar Ahmed, 25, Imtiaz Ahmed, 20, and Muhammad Ibrar, 16, of Rajouri in an encounter in Shopian in 17 July this year.

However, after protests by the family, the army investigated the matter, after which it was revealed that the three had been recruited by an army officer affiliated with the army with the help of some local youths in a mock clash for 'promotion and honors'. Was declared. 

According to the military investigation, the army captain was misled by the local youth. However, in this case, the military has admitted that it was a fake clash.

Between January and the end of December this year, more than 200 people were killed in various acts of violence in Kashmir, including 180 militants. According to police, nine militants have been arrested 'alive'.

ALSO READ: Sohrabuddin ‘Fake’ encounter case verdict: All 22 accused acquitted by special CBI court

Meanwhile, there were 10 clashes this year in Srinagar, the capital of Kashmir, including a clash on Wednesday.

However, the deaths in Wednesday's alleged armed clash have now become controversial after protests by relatives.

You can connect with Ground Report on Facebook, Twitter and Whatsapp, and mail us at [email protected] to send us your suggestions and writeups.