Rajouri (The Stellar News, 25 Sept. 2020), Report: Anil Bhardwaj: The results of Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) samples of three youth from Rajouri district killed allegedly in a fake encounter in Shopian district on July 18, have matched with the samples of the parents.
This was disclosed by Vijay Kumar, IGP Kashmir and said: “The police will now complete further formalities to carry forward already ongoing investigation in this matter.
“We came to know about DNA matching report through media reports and till late evening no official intimation was received from Shopian police” said Mohd Yusuf father of slain Abrar Ahmed. He and other family members have now demanded stringent punishment, including registration of murder case, against those involved in the killing of their innocent children.
On June 18, one among slain youths namely Imtiyaz Ahmed had gone to Shopian for labour work and was also joined by his cousins (on July 17) namely Abrar Ahmed s/of Bagha Khan & Abrar Ahmed s/of Mohd Yunus. They hired a room & at about 8 pm they informed the families about their safe arrival and since then were missing. Despite several attempts, families couldn’t contact them and thought the trio might be under quarantine in no mobile connectivity area. On August 8, Yusuf came to know about the killing of three militants from the area where the trio had hired the room.
He got suspicious and approached the police at Peeri police post (Kotranak police station)and lodged a missing report. On August 10 photos of the trio appeared in the newspapers and a reporter from Kashmir uploaded the photos of terrorists killed in the encounter and Yusuf recognized his kin. Families the approached SSP Rajouri, who contacted his counterpart and the investigation was started. On August 13, a police team from Shopian reached Rajouri, recorded the statements of the parents/relatives.
Samples of Mohd Yusuf his wife Malika Khatoon, Sabar Hussain his wife Shammim Akhter and Sift Jaan & Faizan , mother & brother of Abrar were also taken for DNA matching with the slain militants. Meanwhile, families also approached SSP, DDC Rajouri and Lt Governor for the possession of the bodies. The Army has also investigated the incident and said that the soldiers in the operation (July 18) had exceeded their powers and contravened the guidelines governing military conduct in Kashmir. The Army has assured disciplinary proceedings against those responsible.
