Srinagar: The family members of Altaf Ahmed Bhat, the building owner who was killed during a military operation by forces in Hyderpora area of Srinagar two days ago, on Wednesday staged a protest to demand his body ‘without any further delay.’
Police said four people, including a foreign militant and his associate from J&K’s Ramban district, were killed in the gunfight.
As per IGP Kashmir, Vijay Kumar, Altaf the owner of the building where the gunfight took place and one Mudassir Gul, an OGW as per police were killed “in cross fire” a claim contested by their families.
Both Altaf and Mudasir have been buried by the police in far flung Handwara in north Kashmir’s Kupwara citing “law and order”.
But Altaf’s brother, Dr Haneef disputed the police claims.
“If IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar has himself admitted that Altaf was a civilian and was killed in crossfire, what prompted him to take my brother’s body to Handwara for burial? We appeal to the IGP to return to us the body of Altaf and at the same time we seek LG Manoj Sinha’s intervention too into the issue,” Haneef pleaded.
Altaf’s family members also urged the J&K political leaders especially former chief ministers—Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti and Ghulam Nabi Azad to “move beyond tweets and join the family in protest so that slain Altaf is given a proper burial”.
“Today, we are protesting to seek the body of slain Altaf Ahmed back without any delay. If police doesn’t give us his body back, we will block all roads and protest on streets,” said Dr Haneef Ahmed.
“Today, this has happened with us and tomorrow it may happen with you also. We also appeal to all Muslims, Sikhs and Kashmiri Pandits living in Kashmir to join us in protest and show us that we all are one”.
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