Handwara, (Kupwara), Apr 24: Police have decided to seek the Forensic opinion about the weapon which was handed to it by army along with the body of 70-year old Habibullah Khan, killed in a fake encounter allegedly by troopers of 6-Rashtriya Rifles  at Rainawari forests, 130 km from here, on April 14, sources told Greater Kashmir on Saturday.
They said that army had handed over an Ak-47 riffle along with four magazines and 67 rounds to police which it claimed to have recovered from the “slain militant.”
Two days after claiming to have killed 70-year old militant, who later turned out to be a beggar hailing from Devar Lolab, army issued another statement claiming that “deceased was possibly used as a human shield or guide by militants.”
 “It is believed that the weapon and ammunition recovered was possibly dropped by the fleeing militants,” the statement added.
 The preliminary police investigations, according to the sources, have revealed that pouch was tied to the chest of the victim after bullets were fired upon him.
 “There are bullet entry and exit wounds on part of the body which were covered by pouch, but surprisingly there is no hole in the pouch which should have been there if bullets had pierced across body. This clearly shows that it was tied after he was shot dead,” sources added.
 “To make its case stronger, police have decided to seek the opinion of the experts from Forensic Science Laboratory Srinagar,” they said.
 They added police would also get the statements of the relatives of the victim recorded under section 164(A) CrPC in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Handwara within the next few days.
 Sources revealed that a high level police team from Srinagar was sent to Handwara earlier this week to help their counterparts in the case.
 Pertinently, Police have already registered an FIR No. 60/10 under section 302 RPC (murder) and section 34 RPC (common intention) in the Police Station Handwara against the 6 RR.
 Three troopers which Major A K Mishra are under police scanner for killing Habibullah Khan in a fake encounter.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 24 Apr 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 24 Apr 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 25 Apr 2010 00:00:00 IST