Order follows controversy as families of three deceased had denied police claim that the deceased were “terror associates “.
JAMMU, NOVEMBER 18: The Jammu Kashmir Government on Thursday ordered magisterial enquiry into the Hyderpora encounter in which four alleged militants were killed on Monday.
“A magisterial inquiry by officer of ADM rank has been ordered in Hyderpora encounter,” read a tweet by the office of UT’s Lt Governor Manoj Sinha. “Govt will take suitable action as soon as report is submitted in a time-bound manner,” it said, adding “JK admin reiterates commitment of protecting lives of innocent civilians&it will ensure there is no injustice”.
According to the police, a Pakistani terrorist and his local associate Mohammad Amir, along with two civilians — Altaf Bhat and Mudassir Gul — were killed in the encounter, where an illegal call centre and a terror hideout were allegedly being run. It claimed to have buried their bodies somewhere in Handwara.
However, a controversy had erupted over Monday’s encounter in Hyderpora following conflicting claims about three deceased civilians as their family members contested the police’s charge that they were “militants” or “terror associates”.
Families of Altaf Bhat and Mudassir held a protest in Srinagar on Wednesday, demanding justice for the victims and the return of their bodies.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Amir, whom police described as local associate of the slain Pakistani terrorist, was later identified as son of Abdul Latief Magray, recipient of the 2012 State Bravery Award for having killed a Lashkar-e-Toiba militant in 2005. In January 2006, he was also awarded commendation certificate by the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Northern Command for his work with counter insurgency force during 2005-06.
“Like me, my son was also a nationalist,” he said, adding that he cannot be a militant as the family has been on the hit list of militants.
“I have killed militants during peak militancy and the government had in 2011 established a permanent police picket at my house for our protection from militants,” he said.
Pointing out that he was a nationalist and he has shed blood for the country, he had requested the LG to get him justice and order return of his son’s body to him for burial.
