Srinagar, Oct 11: The families and relatives of the five militants killed on September 21, 2018 in Sumlar forests of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district held a protest demonstration at Press Enclave here today demanding the return of the bodies of their slain kin.
Shouting pro-justice and pro-Islam slogans, the protesters demanded mortal remains of the slain militants. They accused the government of delaying the legal formalities and demanded that the mortal remains be handed over to the families as soon as possible.
The family members said that after meeting the Deputy Commissioners of Bandipora and Baramulla, their DNA samples were taken for identification of the bodies. “It has been over two weeks and yet there is no word from authorities,” they said.
Earlier on September 21, the Army claimed killing of five “non-local” militants in a gunfight in Bandipora’s Shogbaba area. However, Hizbul Mujhadeen militant outfit maintained that all the five militants killed in the gunfight were locals.
The outfit had identified the slain militants as Hyder Ali from Brazul Kulgam, Muhammad Umar from Shopian, Muhammad Sidiq from Bandipora, Mawiya from Kangan and Usman from Lolab.
