Srinagar: Four persons, including two businessmen, were killed during an anti-terror operation by security forces in Srinagar on Monday evening. The police said that two terrorists and two businessmen were killed in the operation. According to the police, two businessmen who were killed were working terrorist organisation.On other hand Former CM of Jammu Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti demanded inquiry in this matter.
The killed businessmen – Dr Mudasir Gul and Altaf Bhat – had shops in the commercial complex at Hyderpora where the encounter took place on November 15.
As per media reports, Mudsir Gul, a dental surgeon by training, ran a computer centre in the complex. Altaf Bhat was the owner of the commercial complex and also ran a hardware and cement shop there.
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today tweeted and demanded inquiry and said, “Using innocent civilians as human shields, getting them killed in cross firing & then conveniently labelling them as OGWs is part of GOIs rulebook now. Imperative that a credible judicial enquiry is done to bring out the truth & put an end to this rampant culture of impunity,” tweeted Ms Mufti.
The families allege that the businessmen were killed by security forces but the police insist that both of them were either killed in terrorist firing or killed during the crossfire.
The families have been demanding their bodies for the last rites. The police, however, said that the bodies cannot he handed over to families because of the law and order situation. Police said all the four bodies were buried in Handwara area of north Kashmir, 100 km from Srinagar.
Police said two pistols have been recovered from encounter site and the call centre being run in the commercial complex was used for terrorist activities.
Initially police said both the businessmen were injured and eventually killed in terrorist firing but later said that they may have been caught in the cross-firing.
Locals said soon after security forces launched an operation to track down suspected terrorists and a volley of gun fire ensued. What followed was a nightmare for locals and those stranded in sub zero temperature.
Families of Altaf and Mudasir said they visited the police station several times demanding that the bodies be returned to them but they were denied.
Srinagar has been witnessing frequent terrorist related incidents for last few months. On Sunday evening, one policeman was injured in terrorist firing in downtown area of Srinagar. The police said terrorists fired during a raid by the security forces.
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