The families of three missing Rajouri laborers are yet to get permission from the district administration to travel to Shopian where they suspect their sons were killed in an alleged fake encounter.
“We were supposed to get a travel pass from DC Rajouri today, but were told that he (DC) is in Srinagar for a meeting,” said Yousuf Sarkasi, father of one of the missing laborers – Imitiyaz.
He said they are hopeful the administration would issue the pass today only so as they can proceed to Shopian.
“We would be seeking permission from DC Shopian for matching of DNA samples and the exhumation of bodies,” Sarkasi said.
He said they would also visit the concerned police station where the FIR is registered about the encounter.
Aaqib Ahmad, a local activist, said, “The administration has been maintaining that due to coronavirus they are working out the options of how the travel of the family members can be facilitated.”
Aaqib urged the administration to allow the families to proceed immediately on humanitarian grounds.
The trio, Imtiyaz Ahmad (25); Abrar Ahmad (20) and Ibrar Ahmad (17), had lost contact with their families on July 18, the same day army and police claimed to have gunned down three unidentified militants in an encounter in an orchard of Amshipora Shopian.
They were buried by police in north Kashmir’s Baramulla.
The families suspect the “unidentified militants” which forces claimed to have killed were actually their kin who had come to work in Shopian.
Army who carried out the “encounter” has already started investigation into the allegations.
The family members have met senior police officials in Rajouri and demanded DNA tests of the three persons killed in the “encounter” on July 18.
Taking cognizance of the claim made by the families and media reports, J&K police stated that they will examine the claimants and carry out DNA sampling.