Former chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah have slammed the state police and security forces after civilians were killed in a gunfight in Srinagar’s Hyderpora on Monday. People’s Democratic Party chief Mufti has held the central government responsible for killing people in the valley and said that innocent civilians are being used as human shields.
“Imperative that a credible judicial enquiry is done to bring out the truth and put an end to this rampant culture of impunity,” Mufti tweeted.
National Conference leader Omar Abdullah also demanded an impartial and credible inquiry into the Hyderpora encounter and said that questions should be raised about recent killings as there have been numerous instances of “fake encounters” in the past.
Amid the allegations against police and security forces, Jammu and Kashmir Inspector-General of Police Vijay Kumar has clarified that two civilians were killed during the cross-firing between police and militants.
According to Jammu and Kashmir police, a total of four people, including one from Pakistan and his local associate, were killed during the gun battle.
Expressing regret over the killing of local civilians in cross-firing, Jammu and Kashmir Police said on Tuesday that they have tried to save them but could not do so. The two deceased civilians were identified as – Mudassir Gul and businessman Mohammad Altaf Bhat.
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During the press conference in Srinagar after the encounter, IGP Kumar claimed that Gul was the man who provided his rented space to militants in Bhat’s building. Kumar, however, further ensured that a special investigation team will probe the matter.
The dead bodies of the deceased civilians were also not handed over to their family members in order to avoid law and order problems in the valley.
The operations and checking of vehicles have been intensified by Jammu and Kashmir police after more than ten civilians were killed in the valley by terrorists last month.
