Amid global hue & cry J&K police release encounter video of 3 “alleged” militants

J&K police: Intervening night of December 29 and 30, 2020 saw killing of three youth in an encounter in Srinagar, based on inputs received by Army and was later joined by the CRPF and police. The Army states that the operation was based on the information that the people were planning an attack. 

Forces have shared that the three militants were overground operatives with no inclusion in official terrorist list. During operation, the militants were given opportunity to surrender but they continued firing. The families of the three youth, one of them was police officer’s brother and one was son of Head Constable, claim that they were innocent and killed in staged encounter. 

Following constant global criticism, J&K police released two videos on Twitter on Monday. Forces can be heard making announcements to youth to surrender. No response or firing can be heard from the other side. The police tweeted, “On 29/12/20 evening after the cordon at Hokersar, troops are repeatedly appealing the trapped terrorists to come out and surrender with assurances that they will not be harmed… At Hokersar on 30/12/2020 in the morning hours, troops are once again appealing the trapped terrorists to come out… and surrender.” 

General Officer Commanding of the Army’s Kilo Force H S Shahi said in a statement that militants had opened fire when they were told to surrender. 

A protest was held in Srinagar on Monday which was participated by families, neighbours and relatives of the killed youth, demanding investigation into the killings. Mushtaq, father of Athar, one of the killed 16 year old boy said, “I want justice. I don’t need money. I only want the body of my son. To whom do I express (my feelings)? Do the people of India not listen? I want my son. He was only 16.” 

Mehbooba Mufti, former Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party chief has demanded that bodies of the youth must be handed over to the families for proper burial.