KNZ NEWS DESK
Srinagar, Aug 10 : A family from Langate on Friday approached police with a claim that one among the five militants killed in Rafiabad forests was their kin.
Bashir Ahmad Mir, a resident of Langate, approached the police, claiming that one among the slain militants was Muzaffar Ahmad Mir whom they identified through pictures that have gone viral on social media.
Muzaffar had gone missing a week ago from his residence and reportedly joined the militant ranks.
Soon after the family found the picture, they approached concerned Police Station Langate about the matter.
“We were told to meet the SHO concerned in Dangiwacha in whose jurisdiction the encounter took place. Later we approached the Police station Dangiwacha,” Bashir Ahmad said.
Later, he said, the family was told to approach the SSP office Sopore.
“We later in the afternoon met SSP Sopore and he assured us if the claim will come true, the police will help the family in the exhumation of the body,” Bashir Ahmad said.
Meanwhile, reports said that another youth hailing from Baramulla namely Mohammad Suhail Akhoon who was also missing from the last couple of weeks is said to be the second slain among the five militants killed in Rafiabad.
SSP also told the family to meet him again on Saturday as he will get the pictures of the deceased from the concerned army unit for further identification, Bashir said. “The officer assured us all possible help in the exhumation of the body.”
All the five slain militant whom army claimed are foreigners were buried at Hamam Markote late last evening after conducting the post-mortem and carrying out other legal formalities.
SSP Sopore Javid Iqbal when contacted told GNS that the family approached him and further action would be taken after completion of preliminary investigations.
“Let police conduct the preliminary investigations if the investigations reveal one of the slain is the member of the family, the police will initiate the process to exhume the body,” SSP said.
Asked about the reports of another missing youth Suhail Ahmad Akhoon was also among the slain, SSP said: “no comments.”
Army said that the encounter broke out in the area of Vijay Post-the upper reaches of Rafiabad following inputs about the presence of militants. In the gunfight, the army said that all the five militants killed in the ara were non-local nationalists and belonged to Lashkar e Toiba militant organization. (GNS)
