Families of 3 youth killed in alleged gunfight in Kashmir claimed bodies and demands probe.

Shyam Sood
Rajouri, August 11:–Family members of three youth from Rajouri district have alleged that their innocent kin, who had gone to Kashmir to earn a livelihood, were killed in an alleged gunfight, as claimed by the Army, on July,18 in Shopian district.
They have demanded independent probe and possession of the bodies during meetings with DIG, Rajouri-Poonch police range, SSP Rajouri .
Family members claimed they are poor people and never supported militancy. “We want that the truth behind innocent killings must come out”.
Youth were identified as Abrar Ahmed s/o Bagha Khan; Imitiaz Ahmed s/o Sabar Hussain both r/o Dharsakri and Abrar Ahmed s/o Mohd Yousuf r/o Tarkashi. “Family members have been assured for every possible help from district Rajouri police. We are in touch with our counterparts at Shopian in this connection” said Chandan Kohli,SSP.

On Sunday family members lodged missing report at Peeri police post about their missing from Shopian.
On Monday their photos in the press were identified in Kashmir as militants killed in a gunfight with the army on July 18.
Families on Monday approached SHO at Kotranka and the matter of alleged fake gunfight (No official statement yet, police will go for DNA matching before declaring the identities of the three youth) came to light.
Kashmir police today claimed that some families have approached the Rajouri police claiming that the three militants killed in an operation at Amshipora (Shopian) were their kin who went missing from Shopian after their last contacted with the trio on July 17.
Despite sufficient time provided for the identification of the bodies at PCR, Srinagar, and the bodies remained unidentified and were later buried in the presence of Magistrate after conducting post-mortem and lifting DNA samples, Kashmir police claimed.
Shopian police reportedly have decided to go for DNA samples of the family members from Rajouri for matching purpose (with DNA samples of killed youth).
On media reports /families claim, the Army has also started an investigation.
Meanwhile, Rajouri police have asked the family members, who want to visit Shopian, to go for Covid-19 before the Shopian police call them for further investigation, claims for the bodies and for DNA sampling.
Those who tested for Covid-19 today include Mohd Yousuf, Sabar Hussain fathers of Ibrar Ahmed & Imtiaz Ahmed respectively, mother of Ibrar Ahmed s/o Bagha Khan (who is in Saudi Arab) , Ibrar’s cousin Zulfikar and Guftar Ahmed , a prominent /political social activist.
Meanwhile, Farooq Inqlabi,a prominent social activist & Chairman J&K Sarpanch Panch Democratic Forum met with SHO, Kotranka and handed over memorandum addressed to Lt Governor demanding judicial probe in the killing of innocent youths from their area.