LG orders magisterial inquiry into Hyderpora encounter
Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Nov 18: Government today ordered magisterial inquiry into the Hyderpora encounter and exhumation of the bodies of two civilians after protests by the political parties and the families and anger shown by the netizens on the social media.
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Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today ordered magisterial inquiry into the encounter by the Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Srinagar. He said that the Government will take suitable action as soon as the report is submitted in a time-bound manner. “J&K administration reiterates its commitment of protecting lives of innocent civilians and it will ensure that there is no injustice”, he said.
Authorities this evening exhumed bodies of Mohammad Altaf Bhat and Dr Mudassir Gul from a graveyard at Wadder Zachaldara Handwara where they were buried along with two militants who were killed in the encounter at Hyderpora on Monday.
The bodies were exhumed under the supervision of Tehsildar Handwara in presence of a team of doctors. The bodies were brought to Srinagar for handing them over to the families.
The families have been asked to limit the funeral to few people only. Also restrictions have been imposed in the area to prevent law and order situation and gathering of people there.
The families of the duo contested police claims about their involvement in the militancy and were demanding their bodies for proper burial.
Altaf Bhat’s brother Abdul Majeed welcomed Magisterial inquiry and said the family also demands that the killers be brought to justice.
“I am thankful to the LG for ordering an inquiry. I am thankful that my oppressed voice was heard by someone. I only have one request to the LG, I want the body of my brother returned to us and the killers of my innocent brother brought to justice,” he said.
Hours after announcement by the LG, the District Magistrate Srinagar appointed a Nodal Officer to conduct a Magisterial inquiry and he was asked to submit a report within 15 days.
The order issued by District Magistrate Srinagar under number DMS/Jud/Inquiry/2838-2845/2021, dated 18-11-2021, read that “An encounter took place at Hyderpora National Highway near Classic Hospital, Srinagar in the intervening night of 15-11-2021 and 16-11-2021 and a case FIR vide No. 193/2021 dated: 16-11-2021 has been registered in P/S Saddar, Srinagar which discloses death of four persons including terrorists in the encounter, and is under investigation by an SIT.”
It has been felt expedient to conduct a Magisterial inquiry into the matter so as to ascertain the facts and circumstances related to the incident and the cause of death, it said.
“Now, therefore in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 176 of CrPC, Khurshid Ahmad Shah (KAS) Additional District Magistrate, Srinagar is hereby ordered to conduct a magisterial inquiry in the incident. The Inquiry Officer shall submit his report within a period of 15 days,” the DM said.
Meanwhile, the Additional District Magistrate (ADM) has issued a general notice, saying that any person who is in knowledge of the incident and is willing to record his/her statement should attend his office within the period of 10 days.
“District Magistrate, Srinagar vide No.DMS/ Jud/Inquiry/2838-2845/2021 Dated: 18-11-2021 has appointed the undersigned as Inquiry Officer for conducting the enquiry into the matter so as to ascertain the facts and circumstances related to the incident and the cause of death,” read the general notice.
“Now, in this connection notice is hereby issued to the general public that any person who is in knowledge of the incident and is willing to record his / her statement or wants to give any other information about the incident, he / she may attend the office of the undersigned in the office complex of Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar Amar Niwas Complex, Tankipora, Srinagar for recording the statements in this matter within 10 days from the date of issuance of this notice from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM during working days, so that the enquiry in the case is completed,” it added.
Meanwhile, People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) today said that they are not concerned about the elections, but want to safeguard the lives of the people, saying that they won’t allow Kashmir to turn into a graveyard.”
Addressing media persons after holding a meeting in Srinagar, PAGD spokesman, Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami said that they held threadbare discussion on Hydeprora gunfight and demand time bound judicial probe into the incident.
The National Conference vice-president and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today while pitching for the exhumation of those killed in Hyderpora encounter said that despite having served as the head of the erstwhile State he never heard or saw anything like “hybrid militant.”
Omar led a sit-in of party leaders at a local park at Sonwar here, a few meters away from his Gupkar residence, against the “Government’s denial in handing over bodies of those killed in Hyderpora encounter to their families for last rites.”
Peoples Conference today protested in Srinagar over the killing of civilians in Hyderpora.
Led by senior party leaders, the PC workers staged protest here against the civilian killings in Hyderpora.
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