Family alleges ‘he was brought down from car then killed’, police denies allegations
“Video message circulated on social media by son, daughter of the slain man is totally baseless: IGP Kmr
Suhail Khan
Srinagar, July 1(KINS): At 6 on Wednesday morning, Bashir Ahmad Khan, 60, left his home at Mustafa Colony HMT Srinagar. He carried his grandson along and had some work at Sopore. He had told his family they would return home by the evening. Hours after, the family instead received his dead body.
Khan was killed on Wednesday morning in Sopore when an encounter broke out between militants and forces.
The man suffered two bullet injuries and died on the spot. His 3-year-old grandson was then seen crying over his grandfather’s body, drenched with blood.
In a video that has gone viral, his (Khan’s) son has alleged that he was shot dead by CRPF. “He (Khan) left his home at 6 am on Wednesday. He had some work there. When an encounter took place, he was brought down from the vehicle then killed by the CRPF, “he alleged.
A police official however denied the allegations and claimed he was killed in a cross firing.
SSP Sopore Javid Iqbal said the deceased was from HMT Srinagar. “Police also rescued his 3-year-old grandson,” he told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS).
CRPF spokesperson in a statement to KINS said, “Today at around 07:30 hrs Golf Coy of 179 Bn CRPF reached Model Town Chowk Sopore for Naka/patrolling duties. As the troops were de-bussing from the vehicles to occupy their respective spots of deployment, militants hiding in the attic of a nearby mosque started firing indiscriminately on the troops, resulting in injuries to four CRPF personnel. HC Deep chand succumbed to his injuries and attained martyrdom, while one civilian died on spot in the terrorist act.”
Heart-rending images have emerged showing how the 3-year-old boy attempted to wake up his grandfather. Another image shows a police person carrying the baby on his lap and taking him away from the encounter site.
Apart from a civilian, a CRPF man was also killed in the encounter while three CRPF personnel were injured.
Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police Kashmir Vijay Kumar in a press conference said “The video message circulated on social media by the son and daughter of the slain man is totally baseless. They have leveled allegations under militant threat,” the IGP said. “I want to ask them whether they were present at the site of the incident. Did they see themselves who fired? They circulated video messages blaming the forces for killing their father from Srinagar, which is totally baseless.” he said.
Police Version Sopore Militant Attack
In a statement issued to News agency KINS, Police said today at about 0740 hours, militants, fired indiscriminately upon a joint party of Police and CRPF from the attic of a nearby mosque near Nowpora crossing Model Town Sopore. In this militant attack, 04 CRPF personnel and a civilian got injured. Among injured, 01 CRPF Personnel and the civilian succumbed to their injuries. The killed civilian has been identified as Bashir Ahmad Khan son of Gh. Mohammad Khan resident of Mustafa Colony HMT Srinagar.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the militants were hiding in a mosque and as the joint party were de-boarding the vehicles for naka duty, they were fired upon indiscriminately by the hiding militants.
Pertinent to mention that, the killed civilian who was accompanied by his 3 year grandchild were passing through the area when the militants fired indiscriminately. Four CRPF jawans and the civilian were hit by bullets, fired indiscriminately by militants. The said civilian and crpf personnel received bullet of militants initially before our retaliation. Hiding militants escaped from the mosque and our parties followed them and retaliated. However, the minor boy was rescued by the police/crpf.
Credible input indicates that 02 LeT militants, Osman, a foreigner and Nasir are involved in the said attack on the joint party.
Regarding the incident case under relevant sections of law was registered by police and investigation is in progress. The area has been cordoned and search in the area is going on. (KINS)
