J&K LG Orders Magisterial Probe Into Hyderpora 'Encounter'
New Delhi: The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Thursday ordered a magisterial probe into the Hyderpora encounter in Srinagar.
"A magisterial inquiry by officer of ADM rank has been ordered in Hyderpora encounter. Govt will take suitable action as soon as report is submitted in a time-bound manner. JK admin reiterates commitment of protecting lives of innocent civilians & it will ensure there is no injustice," Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said in a tweet.
A magisterial inquiry by officer of ADM rank has been ordered in Hyderpora encounter.Govt will take suitable action as soon as report is submitted in a time-bound manner.JK admin reiterates commitment of protecting lives of innocent civilians&it will ensure there is no injustice.
— Office of LG J&K (@OfficeOfLGJandK) November 18, 2021
The magisterial probe was ordered amidst protests by the family members of three of the four persons killed on Monday. The family members of Mohammad Altaf Bhat (the building owner), Mudasir Gul (a tenant) and Amir Magray (Gul's office boy) have been protesting against the killings, which they have described as cold-blooded murder of innocent civilians. The police claim those killed were "terror associates".
They have demanded that the bodies of the deceased be handed over to them for the last rites.
All the four persons killed in the encounter were buried in the Handwara area of Kupwara district.
As The Wire has reported, he killing of businessman Altaf Ahmad Bhat, father of three minor children, in a controversial shootout that left four people dead in Srinagar, has sparked allegations that he was used as a human shield by security forces.
"We will look into the demands of the families. We are open to correction if anything has gone wrong. A police probe will also find out what went wrong," Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Dilbagh Singh told NDTV. "We will find out what happened in the Hyderpora encounter. We are for the safety of people and will not shy away from a probe."
Political parties in the Valley have also been seeking an impartial probe into the incident.
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