Srinagar, Sep 25: Even as the authorities had claimed that five militants killed in Sumlar Bandipora gunfight were foreigners, three families from Shopian, Kulgam and Ganderbal districts on Tuesday refuted these claims saying that their kin are among the slain militants.
Pertinently, the Hizbul Mujahideen also had yesterday said the militants killed in a gunfight with the forces in Sumlar area of Bandipora were locals and not foreigners as claimed by the government forces.
A family from Kangan area of Ganderbal district claimed that one of the militants Parvez Ahmed Tedwa alias Abu Mawiya was their kin.
“We have approached the police that one of the slain militants in Bandipora identified as Parvez Ahmed Tedwa, son of Ghulam Nabi Tedwa, a resident of Hayan Palpora is our kin,” Mohammad Rafiq Tedwa, brother of the slain militant was quoted as saying by a news agency.
He said that Parvez was missing since 2003 and that they came to know about his killing when they came across the pictures of his dead body.
Police in Ganderbal also confirmed that a family from Hayan Palpora approached them with the claim that one of the militants killed in Bandipora gunfight was their kin.
“We have asked them to approach Bandipora police as this case pertains to them” police said.
Similarly, two families from south Kashmir districts of Shopian and Kulgam approached the Deputy Commissioner Bandipora claiming that their kin were among the five slain militants.
Reports said the families have met Deputy Commissioner Bandipora who directed them to meet Deputy Commissioner Baramulla as the slain militants have been laid to rest there.
On Friday, Army had claimed that three more militants were killed in the gunfight, taking the toll to five.
