Srinagar: A family from Barzulla whose member was killed in the encounter in Hyderpora has denied police claims that he was a militant associate. They are seeking the body for burial.
Identified as Mohammad Altaf Bhat, he was injured and later died. It was not known if somebody had evacuated him to the hospital. The family, however, said he was dead in the complex only.
Quoting IGP Kashmir, Vijay Kumar, a police spokesman said on Twitter that the “house owner who was injured in the (militant) fire, succumbed to his injuries. (Militants) have been hiding on top floor of his building. As per source and digital evidence, he has been working as (militant) associate. Search is still going on: IGP Kashmir.”
However, the family said the encounter did not take place in the complex. They, however, admit that the police and the army searched the premises, thrice, and all the three times he was taken along. She said he had no militant affiliations, directly or indirecty.
“My uncle was murdered,” one of the slain Bhat’s nieces said. “He runs a hardware shop and owns the complex which the police searched.” She said they are on the Barzulla bridge seeking the dead body for burial after they failed to get it while visiting PCR and the concerned police station.
Two militants were killed in the gun battle that broke later in the evening.
Two daughters and a son survive Bhat, a businessman. The family said the slain man’s son was accompanying him at the time of the incident. The family is protesting and seeking the body for a decent burial.
