Rafiabad (Varmul), May 8: Accusing army of killing a civilian and dubbing him as a militant, thousands of people staged massive protest demonstrations in Rafiabad area of north Kashmir’s Varmul district on Saturday.
Muhammad Subhan Kumhar of Takia Panzala contested the army claim of having killed six militants in an encounter yesterday, saying that one among those killed was his son- Ghulam Muhammad Kumhar.
The maternal uncle of the deceased, Abdul Ghani told Greater Kashmir that 20 year old Ghulam Muhammad was picked up from his house Thursday night.
Police burst teargas shells and used batons to disperse slogan-shouting villagers protesting the killing.
The protestors said that Ghulam Muhammad was not a militant and was picked up by troops prior to the gun-battle, a charge denied by police.
“We were shocked to see his body in police station Dangiwacha. The police handed over the body to us and asked us to bury it quickly saying that he was militant killed in Duggapora in an encounter with troops,” the family said.
“My son had no links with militancy. Let them prove that he was militant,” said Muhammad Subhan Kumhar.
As the news of the killing spread this morning, thousands of people from Panzala, Khushipora, Putusa, Tragpora and Rohama took to streets raising slogans against army. Carrying the body on a stretcher, the mourners tried to march towards Tragpora to stage protests on Varmul-Handwara highway. The police fired teargas canisters and baton charged the protesters forcing them to disperse.
Complete shutdown was observed in the area to protest the killing. Later the deceased was buried by hundreds of people in local graveyard at Takia Panzala.
DIG North Kashmir, Abdul Qayoom Manhas, said that Ghulam Muhammad was with the militants when he was killed.
“If he was abducted two days before, how family came to lodge missing report after the conclusion of encounter. What he was doing 15 kilometers away from his house? We have started investigations in the matter. He was among two militants killed in the cowshed. Investigation would reveal whether he was a militant or innocent,” Manhas said.

JKLF, PDP CONDEMN KILLING
Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front has strongly condemned the killing.
Quoting locals, a spokesman of the Front said, “The troops had called Ghulam Muhammad Kumhar out of his house and took him along. Today the body of the innocent youth was handed over to his family. When people protested against the killing, the troops showered bullets injuring several civilians.”
The spokesman said the locals were accusing troops of having used Kumhar as human shield during encounter with militants.
Peoples Democratic Party General Secretary, Muhammad Dillawar Mir has strongly condemned the killing and termed as disturbing the reports about the troops having used Kumhar as human shield.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 8 May 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 8 May 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 9 May 2010 00:00:00 IST