Bodies of 3 cousins killded in fake encounter handed over to Rajouri families by Shopian police

Shyam Sood
Rajouri October 03:–Shopian police today exhumed & handed over the bodies of three cousins r/o Dharsakri to their families after about 70 days who were allegedly killed by the Army in fake encounter in Shopian district on July 18.
The bodies were buried on Jhelum river side at Sheri in Gantamulla area in Baramulla district about 120 km from Shopian.
Mohammed Yunus & Sabar Hussain, fathers of two killed cousins have recieved the bodies and also thanked Shopian & Rajouri police/ civil administrations for arranging things & extending all support.
“Our innocent children were brutally killed in a fake encounter & those involved in the crime should get stringent punishment under law” they said.
After reports of matching of DNA samples of the familirs with the samples of killed unidentified terrorists (as claimed by the Army) ,DGP had informed to hand over the bodies to families.
On July 18, Army had claimed to kill three unidentified terrorists in Amishpora (Shopian) encounter and bodies were buried in the presence of Magistrate after collecting their samples for DNA matching.
Three cousins from Rajouri had gone to Shopian to work as laborers.
Imtiyaz s/o Yusuf was already working as laborer at Shopian & on July18 was joined by his cousins namely Abrar Ahmed s/o Bagha Khan and Abrar Ahmed s/o Sabar Hussain on July 17.
“At about 8 pm they informed families about their safe arrival at Shopian and since then no contact was made with trio” families had claimed.
On August 8 ,Yunus came to know about the killing of three unidentified terrorists in Amishpora encounter (where the cousins had hired a room).

He got suspicious about the missing of their youngsters and lodged a missing report at Peeri police post.
On August 10, Yonus recognized the bodies from the pictures of the killed terrorists gone viral on social media.
Families claimed possession of the bodies and subsequently separate investigations by the Army & the police were started..
On August 13, Shopian police team reached Rajouri & recorded the statements of the families and also collected their samples for DNA matching.
On September 25, IGP Kashmir informed about the matching of DNA samples with the families & yesterday DGP said the bodies will be exhumed and handed over to families after due process of law.
The army also conducted an inquiry & accepted its men had exceeded their powers under the AFSPA during the encounter and initiated disciplinary proceedings against some soldiers including an officer.
The police have also arrested two men from South Kashmir claiming to be the informers of security Forces.
“Fight for the justice to three cousins has just begun. Murderers should be hamged” said families.
Besides large number of relatives, people, Additional SP, HQs and other senior officers reached Dharsakri village to join the last rites.