Several villages in Rafiabad area of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district observed complete shutdown on Monday to demand body of the militant killed during an encounter at Warpora Sopore on Friday.
On Feb 22, during a 24 hour long gun battle between forces and militants, two unidentified militants were killed. A family at Shutloo Rafiabad claimed that their son was one among the slain militants and identified him as Waseem Ahmad Malla.
Waseem Ahmad was a personal security officer of a local BJP leader who after deserting with his service rifle in May last year joined militant ranks.
The family while adhering to their claim said that police had earlier asked them to identity the slain militants, however the bodies were beyond recognition. “But our claim was certified by the family whose residential house was gutted in the encounter,” the family said.
“Our suspicion had grown after police asked us to identify the bodies which we could not as they were completely charred. However, when we showed pictures of Waseem to the family were he had taken shelter, they identified him. However, they could not say whether he is among the slain militants or has escaped,” said a family member of Shutloo family.
He said police have collected samples for DNA test.
“A family has claimed that one of the slain militants belongs to them. Since the bodies are not in a condition to be identified, we have collected the samples of family members for DNA test. If the test matches, we will hand over body to the family,” said Javed Iqbal, SSP Sopore.
Monday’s shutdown was observed in Tragpora, Rohama and Shutloo villages of Rafiabad. The locals were demanding return of the slain militant’s body.