2 Shopian families move application before Baramulla DM, claim bodies of slain ultras
Two south Kashmir families on Tuesday formally moved applications before the District Magistrate, Baramulla, seeking the return of the bodies of the two militants killed in an encounter in Shopian district last week.
The two militants, who the police claim were unidentified, were buried quietly in a designated graveyard for unidentified militants in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
“I have received the applications and accordingly sought a report from the SSP concerned. We will follow the due process as laid down under law in such matters, keeping in view the sensitivity of the matter,” said GN Itoo, Baramulla DM.
The formal applications were presented to the DM by the two “families” Tuesday afternoon. The families had travelled from Shopian after their travel was facilitated by the authorities by providing them movement passes.
Soon after the encounter on Friday, one of the families from Shopian had claimed that their son, Asif Ahmed Dar, was one of the militants killed in the encounter. Another family from Ganawpora, Shopian, had also claimed that their son was killed in the Friday gunfight.
In one of the applications moved by Basit Ahmad Dar, a resident of Bongam, Shopian, it has been requested that the body be returned to the family, claiming that by burying the two slain militants in a graveyard in Sheeri, Baramulla, the family had been denied the right to mourn and have a decent burial.
Basit had stated in the application, a copy of which was accessed by The Tribune, that one of the slain was his brother, Asif Ahmad.
While demanding the return of Asif’s body, Basit had also undertaken that the family would abide by all guidelines for the burial in view of the pandemic.
The family has also stated in the application that Asif had called them on Friday, saying he was trapped while an encounter was on.
“The deceased (Asif) called the applicant around 5 am on Friday and said he is trapped inside,” it states, adding that Basit later informed the family and a local police officer about the phone call.
“The DM, Baramulla, took our contact numbers and said the families would be contacted following the due process,” said one of the family members who had met the DM.
TNS
