Was used as human shield, say Kin of civilian Killed in Srinagar Encounter

Ground Report | New Delhi: Civilian Killed in Srinagar Encounter; Security forces gunned down two terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar, the Jammu and Kashmir Police confirmed on Tuesday. A civilian was also killed in the encounter that took place late Monday

According to police, an encounter took place between security forces and militants near Classic Hospital in Hyderpora area of ​​the city. Two terrorists were killed in the operation, while a civilian succumbed to his injuries after the terrorist caught fire, confirmed IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar.

Taking to his official Twitter handle, IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar said, "The house owner who was injured in terrorist fire, succumbed to his injuries. Terrorists have been hiding on the top floor of his building." (Civilian Killed in Srinagar Encounter)

However, relatives of one of the three terrorists killed in an encounter in Srinagar said that he was used as a human shield and had no links with any terrorist group. The family staged a protest on Monday night demanding the body of Mohammad Altaf, News18 reported.

Police officials said the landlord was injured in the terror attack and later succumbed to his injuries. “The terrorists are hiding on the top floor of the building. As per the source and digital evidence, he has been working as a terror associate. The search is still on,” said Vijay Kumar, IGP Kashmir.

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Saima Bhat, the niece of the slain man, said that her uncle was an innocent person and was not involved in any terrorist activity. "My uncle has been murdered. He was used as a human shield in a staged encounter. He runs a hardware shop and owns the premises where the security forces had come for checking,” she said.

“There was no firing in that compound. He was taken thrice inside the building as a human shield for search and when they found nothing, he was killed there,” she said. Saima and some family members expressed their displeasure by tweeting and demanded that the body be returned to the family for burial.

She said the police were not returning her uncle's body by calling it an Over Ground Worker (OGW) or a "terrorist accomplice". In a tweet last night, police quoted the Inspector General of Police (Kashmir region) as saying that Bhat "in whose building the terrorists were hiding" was injured in the firing and later died.

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Landlord who was injured in the terrorist attack succumbed to his injuries. The terrorists are hiding on the top floor of his building. As per source and digital evidence, he is working as #terror aide. Search is still on: IGP Kashmir (sic)," the official Kashmir area police tweeted.

The police had cordoned off the Hyderpora area in the evening and within hours said that they had killed two unidentified terrorists in the encounter. Police tweeted for the second time, "Two unidentified terrorists killed during the ensuing encounter while search operation is on."

“Op Hyderpora, #Budgam. Based on @JmuKmrPolice input, a joint op was launched today evening in Hyderpora. Cordon was laid. Terrorists fired on Security Forces which was retaliated. Firefight ensued. Joint op in progress. #Kashmir @adgpi @NorthernComd_IA (sic),” said the Chinar Corps.

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