New Delhi, 18 November
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday ordered a magisterial inquiry into the Hyderpora encounter, following which investigating officer Khurshid Ahmed Shah initiated proceedings and sought information from the public about the incident.
Hours later, the bodies of two civilians killed in the encounter were taken out to be handed over to the families. Shah has issued a public notice, urging those who wish to record their statements regarding Monday’s encounter, in which four people were killed, to contact his office within 10 days.
Shah was named the investigating officer by District Magistrate Muhammad Ejaz Asad. “Additional District Magistrate, Srinagar, Khurshid Ahmad Shah has been designated as the Investigating Officer to ascertain the facts and circumstances relating to the incident and the cause of death,” said an order issued by the District Magistrate. East, Lieutenant Governor Sinha ordered a magisterial inquiry into the encounter. “A magisterial inquiry has been ordered by an ADM rank officer in the Hyderpora encounter. The government will take appropriate action as soon as the report is submitted in a time bound manner. The J&K administration reiterates its commitment to protect the lives of innocent civilians and this Will ensure that no injustice happens,” tweeted Sinha.
Families of three of the four killed in the encounter had ordered a magisterial inquiry amid protests claiming innocence of their relatives.
Controversy erupted over Monday’s encounter in Hyderpora following conflicting claims about the deceased as his family members protested the police’s charge that they were “terror associates”.
According to the police, a Pakistani terrorist and his local associate Mohammad Amir Magre, along with two civilians (Mohammed Altaf Bhat and Mudassir Gul) were killed in an encounter at a building in Hyderpora, where an illegal call center and a terror hideout were reportedly . is being run.
Family members and relatives of Bhat (the owner of the building), Gul (tenant) and Magrey (Gul’s office boy) are protesting the killings, which they described as “disgraced murder”. They are also demanding dead bodies so that they can be cremated. – tns