Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Friday wrote to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, seeking his intervention to return the bodies of three youth, who police claimed to have killed in Lawaypora gunfight, to their families.
The families of the three youth have said they were civilians, a charge denied by the police and army, who have claimed that the trio were militants and were given ample chances to surrender.
In a letter, shared on social media, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti has also sought an impartial investigation into the matter immediately. “I am sure you are aware of the unfortunate incident at Parimpora (Hokersar) on 30th December. Three boys, the youngest being all of 17 years old were killed in what the family has alleged to be a staged gunfight,” read the letter.
She said the incident has come close on the heels of an enquiry report that held an Army captain guilty & responsible for a fake encounter at Amshipora in Shopian. “Again the three victims now established as innocent through an investigation were killed & later dubbed as militants,” she said, adding, “You and I may not agree on most political matters that concern J&K but I am certain we agree that such incidents bring disrepute to the armed forces & are a grave violation of human rights.”
Mehbooba said that she was aware that the administration is apprehensive about returning their dead bodies to the families, but this “callous decision will only exacerbate their sense of loss & pain,” she said.
“One hopes that you will rethink this decision & allow them to get closure. A mother who grieves the sudden & tragic death of her beloved son shouldn’t be deprived of the last chance to see his face. Nor does she deserve to beg for his dead body. This is simply inhuman unacceptable.”
Urging him to intervene and ensure that these families get a chance to perform the last rites as per their wishes, Mehbooba said that questions are also looming over the encounter and there are “conflicting versions & reports from police & the army.” “Justice can be served only if it is swift & therefore I request you to initiate an impartial investigation into the matter immediately,” she added.