Families reject Police claim, SIT formed
Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Nov 16: Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Vijay Kumar today said that four persons including a foreign militant, his local associate, an Over Ground Worker (OGW) and owner of the building were killed in Hyderpora encounter last evening.
Click here to watch video
Kumar said that the building owner was killed in a “cross fire” while the fourth person was an OGW who had provided his rented space to Haider for using the same as militant hideout.
The IGP told a news conference here in Srinagar that last evening, police received a lead about the presence of militants near National highway at Hyderpora. “Police, CRPF and the army laid a cordon and when the suspected spot was zeroed in, militants fired indiscriminately at the security forces,” he said.
Kumar said that two militants including a foreign identified as Haider and his local associate possibly from Banihal area of Jammu were killed. “We have called a family from Banihal to identify the slain,” he said.
He said that the building owner Altaf Ahmed was killed in a cross fire. “It is not sure whether militant bullet or the bullets fired by security forces hit him. Militants were carrying pistols and it would be clear after investigations whose bullet hit him,” he added.
Kumar said the fourth one Mudasir Ahmed, who was living on rent in the building, had provided shelter to Haider and his associate. “This way he was harbouring militants. Mudasir was also involved in ferrying Haider from the recent attack site of Jamalata Srinagar where a police man was injured. He was also involved in ferrying militants from South and North Kashmir areas”, he added.
The IGP said that from the encounter site two pistols, two magazines, half-a-dozen mobile phones and a few computers were recovered. “Fourth slain Mudasir was also running a call centre. This way, he was an OGW and was directly involved in harbouring militants,” he added.
He said since there was an apprehension of law and order, body of Altaf Ahmed was not handed over to family for last rites.
The IGP said that before giving rooms or building on a rent, owners should get in touch with police and share details of tenets. Asked whether police had clear evidence of Mudasir being involved in “harbouring militants”, the IGP said that they had digital evidence and once they will get further proof, same will be shared with media.
The family members of building owner Altaf Ahmed and Mudasir Gul today urged Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to help them in taking the bodies of their loved ones back home for proper burial.
Daughter of building owner Altaf Ahmed said that her father left home wearing a jacket and sweater and they lost contact with him after the encounter took place last evening. “We urge LG Manoj Sinha to direct police to return my father’s body so that we can see him one last time and give him a proper burial bath,” she said.
Family members of slain Mudasir Gul, a resident of Rawalpora area of Srinagar outskirts, staged a protest at Press Enclave Srinagar and demanded the return of their son’s body. “He has two little kids and we want to show them the face of their father one last time”, they said.
The family members and relatives of slain Mudasir outrightly rejected police claim that the slain was an OGW stating that “Mudasir had no militant links and was innocent.”
In the meantime, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police will probe the modus operandi of a hi-tech hideout at Hyderpora.
“SIT headed by a DIG will probe modus-operandi of the hi-tech hideout of Hydeprora. They will also get into the details of whether militants were in touch with any foreign country. The team will also look into the sequence of events that led to the killing of building owner and militant associate,” the IGP said.
Asked whether it was true that mobile phones and computers recovered from the encounter site had links with foreign countries including the US, Kumar said that it was a matter of investigation and once full details come, the same will be shared with media.
He also said that investigations will clear whether pistol bullet had hit building owner Altaf Ahmed or he was hit by AK bullet fired by forces.
Meanwhile, security forces have arrested two militant associates linked to Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and recovered incriminating materials including a grenade from their possession.
Police said that based on specific information, a joint checkpoint was established by Police along with 22RR and 179Bn CRPF at Shalimar Colony crossing area of Sopore.
“During checking, two suspicious individuals were apprehended and they were identified as Asif Rasheed War son of Abdul Rasheed War and Altaf Hussain Najar son of Abdul Ahad Najar, residents of Natnoosa Kupwara. During search, incriminating materials including a hand grenade were recovered from their possession”, police said.
Police said that during preliminary questioning, both the arrested accused revealed that they were working as associates of LeT and intended to lob the acquired grenade at an undisclosed location in Kupwara with an intention to cause casualties.
A case (vide FIR No. 275/2021 under relevant sections of law) has been registered in Police Station Sopore and further investigation into the matter is in progress and more arrests are anticipated.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
