The family members of three boys missing since July 17 today called on senior police officers in Rajouri and demanded probe into the missing of their boys and DNA sampling of “persons killed in Shopian encounter” last month.
A deputation of three families accompanied by local youth activist Guftar Ahmed Chowdhary met Deputy Inspector General of Police and Senior Superintendent of Police Rajouri at Rajouri police headquarters.
Later talking to media persons, the family members said that the three boys namely Mohammad Ibrar son of Bagha Khan of Kathuni Mohalla, Dharsakri, Mohammad Imtiyaz son of Sabar Hussain of Kathuni Mohalla, Dharsakri and Ibrar Ahmed son of Mohammad Yousaf of Tarkassi had gone Shopian for daily wage working and were in contact with family till evening of 17 July but no contact took place post 17 July.
“Our boys are missing and we all are in a state of panic.” they said.
The family members mentioned about some social media reports which claimed that the “three boys have been killed” in the alleged fake encounter in Shopian on July 18.
“We have put up three points before police officers. First is to conduct fast track probe in missing of our boys and then conduct DNA mapping of three persons killed in Shopian encounter on July 18 to cross verify their identity and to check if they are our boys, and if it so then a case be registered against the culprits,” they said.
“We are hopeful that this entire case will be investigated on merits and truth will come out,” the family members said.
“The trio was not having any militancy link of whatsoever nature and had gone Shopian purely to earn livelihood,” the families said
Senior Superintendent of Police Rajouri Chandan Kohli meanwhile said that the family members met him and put forth their demands and “we have assured them of every possible legal help”.
“The matter is being taken up with our counterparts in Kashmir,” the SSP added.
Meanwhile, a deputation of Jammu Kashmir Sarpanch-Panch Democratic Forum (JKSPDF) led by its chairman Mohammad Farooq Inqlabi met SHO Budhal and submitted a memorandum addressed to Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir demanding judicial enquiry of Shopian encounter.
Inqlabi said that there is lot of anger among the people. “We demand that all those involved in this alleged fake encounter be suspended until the outcome of judicial enquiry so that trust as it is on Indian Army remains firm,” Inqlabi said.
“If the investigation is delayed or any attempt is made to save the culprit, we will knock the door of the court and take to the streets for justice,” he said.
General Secretary of forum, Shabir Ahmed Kamlak, spokesman Shabir Badyal, BDC Chairman of Budhal new block Shamim Akhter, social activist Shah Nawaz Khaki, Gulzar Qazi, Sarpanch Mohammad Iqbal, Sarpanch Gafoor Bhat, Sarpanch Arshad Mir, Sarpanch Layaqat Ali, Sarpanch Shahida Perveen were members of the deputation.