Masoodi speaks, Mehbooba writes to LG demanding probe in encounter
Lt. Governor assures NC MP that the killings would be impartially probed: NC
Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Member of Parliament from Anantnag Justice (Retd) Hasnain Masoodi on Thursday evening spoke to LG J&K Manoj Sinha over phone and expressed his anguish over the reports surrounding the Hokarsar Killings and demanded an impartial inquiry into the matter while as PDP President, Mehbooba Mufti too sought a probe in a communiqué addressed to the LG.
Masoodi demanded an impartial probe into the killings and said the stated version of the police was far from convincing and ambiguous. He said the versions of police and family pertaining to the killing of three youth at an encounter site in Srinagar suburb are also contradictory, therefore the situation necessitates the constitution of a fact finding team that could reveal the circumstances that could probe the matter on a fast track basis.
“I implored upon him that in the wake of the ambiguous version of police, the version of the families of the slain trio seems to be nearer to truth. Therefore it becomes imperative upon the government to come clean on the matter. A fast-track inquiry into the incident will help establish the veracity of the claims of police as well as the families of the slain young men,” he said in a statement issued here.
The statement claimed that LG assured the Member of Parliament that the killings would be impartially probed to establish the facts.
Meanwhile, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti sought on Friday an impartial investigation into the killing of three youths in an alleged fake encounter here two days ago and demanded that the bodies be returned to their families.
In a letter to the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Mufti said such incidents brought “disrepute” to the armed forces and are “a grave violation” of human rights.
“I am sure you are aware of the unfortunate incident at Parimpora on 30th December. Three boys, the youngest being all of 17 years old, were killed in what the family has alleged to be a staged gunfight,” she said.
“Questions are also looming over this encounter & there are conflicting versions & reports from police & the army. Justice can be served only if its swift & therefore I request you to initiate an impartial investigation into the matter immediately,” the former chief minister said.
Police had claimed on Wednesday to have killed three militants in an overnight encounter in Lawaypora (under police station Parimpora) area of Srinagar, but families of the slain youths said they had no connection with militancy and that two of them were students.
Mufti said the incident comes close on the heels of police filing a charge-sheet against an Army officer and two others in connection with the killing of three men from Rajouri district in an alleged fake encounter at Amshipora in Shopian last July.
The PDP leader said she and the lieutenant Governor might not be on the same page on most political matters, “but I am certain we agree that such incidents bring disrepute to the armed forces and are a grave violation of human rights”.
Mufti said while she was aware that the administration was apprehensive about returning the bodies of the three youths killed in Srinagar to their families, “this callous decision will only exacerbate their sense of loss and pain”.
“One hopes that you will rethink this decision and allow them to get closure. A mother who grieves the sudden & tragic death of her beloved son shouldn’t be deprived of the last chance to see his face. Nor does she deserve to have to beg for his dead body. This is simply inhuman & unacceptable,” she said in the letter.
Mufti urged Sinha to intervene and ensure that the families get a chance to perform the last rites as per their wishes.
