Newscraving Desk:
Srinagar,
Inspector General of Police Vijay Kumar on Tuesday said that four persons were killed in an “encounter” at Hyderpora Srinagar and included house owner of the particular building who had rented out first storey to another person who was also among those killed and claimed to be an “OGW”.
“Yesterday, in the afternoon, police received information that there are militants present near Hyderpora on Jammu-Srinagar highway. Police, CRPF and army laid a cordon. Later, searches started,” the IGP said addressing reporters.
“There were three rooms in top storey (atop shops run by owner Altaf Ahmad Dar). Since location was not known and owner Alfaf Ahmad Dar and one doing business there, Mudasir Gull both knocked and militants did not open the door. Again they were given opportunity; then again the door was knocked. The militants started firing and in self-defense our troops opened fire and encounter started,” he said, adding, “We then stopped encounter and tried to rescue both of them and the place where they got trapped, it was hard to rescue them. Both were killed and in the ensuing encounter, two militants were also killed.”
One of “militants”, he said, has been identified as Bilal Bhai. “Some call him Hyder. He was probably Pakistani militant and other is local militant, most probably from Ramban Gool,” he said, adding, “
We have called his family, we will show (family) and he will get identified. We have taken DNA samples.”
“Since we apprehended law and order situation, we did not give bodies to families. Bodies were taken to Handwara (in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district) where this morning they were buried,” he said.
The IGP said “I want to share that Altaf Ahmad Dar had given rooms on rent to Mudasir Gull who was contractor by profession and was running unauthorized call centre. Six cabin and in one room there was militants hideout where from lot of things were found.”
“I want to share that two pistols were found from encounter site and six phones from militants and 4 phones were recovered from room. Six computers and six CPUs were there. Warm clothes were found. Also injections used by (militants) during injury were recovered,” he said, adding, “I want to share with you that there was firing on police party in downtown (Nawa Kadal) in which one of our policeman sustained injury in neck. Same militant was involved. Mudasir had ferried him in his own vehicle to this building. Also Mudasir was ferrying militants from south to north and then keeping them in his house and militants used to carry activities.”
Regarding the owner, he said, “since militants were in his house, we will include him in harboring and we will include him among OWG. Since his death took place in cross firing, we regret same. We tried to save him but it was difficult as firing was going from both sides. Mudasir was top ranked OGW and was involved in militancy.”
On being asked why you are including Altaf for harbouring when he had rented out the premises, the IGP said, “See if you are giving premises on rent, it is your responsibility. It is our responsibility.”
Meanwhile family members of two slain people in the encounter,building owner Altaf Ahmed and Mudasir Gul, Tuesday urged authorities to help them in taking the bodies of their loved ones back home for proper burial. Daughter of building owner Altaf Ahmed told news agency Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that her father left home wearing a jacket and sweater and they lost contact with him after the encounter took place on Monday evening. “
Family members of slain Mudasir Gul, a resident of Rawalpora area of Srinagar outskirts, staged a protest at press enclave Srinagar and demanded the return of their son’s body. “He has two little kids and we want to show them the face of their father one last time,” the said. ” Police should return the body of our son,” said the wailing mother of slain Mudasir, adding that her son was innocent. Other family members and relatives of slain Mudasir out rightly rejected police claim that the slain was an OGW stating that “Mudasir had no militant links and was innocent.”
Police said Mudasir had provided his rented accommodation to the militants for using the same as hideout and he was also working as an OGW for militants.
“We want justice. Hand our body to us,” Abdul Majed, brother of Altaf Ahmad said.
“Our brother was working in Hyderpora Srinagar. He had six shops there. The first storey building has been rented by him to property dealers. At 5 p.m., military (police and army) came and there was cordon. The shops were asked to be closed,” he said, adding, “Then around 30-40 persons were confined in Honda shop. Then there was burst (firing). Then my brother was taken out and told that search is to be carried. Then after some time, they again confined our children in the shop. Later they brought drone etc and then they took my brother again, saying that fresh search is to be carried. After some time, he was again kept with these persons. Third time, they again asked him to come out for searches. This time he was killed,” he added.
He said one of killed is from Banihal Gool who was working as peon with property dealers. “people would call him doctor and I don’t know his real name.”
(With inputs from KNO, GNS)