The People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) met on Thursday and demanded a time-bound judiciary inquiry into Hyderpora killings. The PAGD has also asked handover the bodies to the families of the slain civilians as it their “constitutional right and not a favour .”
The J&K Police claimed that those killed included two militants, along with an OGW and the owner of the commercial building where the encounter took place. However the families of the civilians killed have said the two men had nothing to do with any terror activists and have demanded that their bodies be handed over. However the two were buried in Handwara in northern Kashmir. For the last two years, police in Kashmir do not hand over the bodies of militants killed in encounters to the family for last rites citing their funerals create a law and order situation. The building owner Altaf Ahmed Bhat’s family have also alleged that he was used as a human shield and had no links with any militant group, and have demanded justice for him. The other civilian is Dr Mudassir Gul, who was living on rent in the building, and according to police “had provided shelter to Haider and his associate” and so, “he was harbouring militants. Mudasir’ family has denied the charges and demanded justice.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha ordered a magisterial inquiry into the Hyderpora encounter on Thursday and the LG’s office announced it on the official Twitter handle, “A magisterial inquiry by officer of ADM rank has been ordered in the Hyderpora encounter. Government will take suitable action as soon as report is submitted in a time-bound manner. J-K admin reiterates commitment of protecting lives of innocent civilians and it will ensure there is no injustice.”
A magisterial inquiry by officer of ADM rank has been ordered in Hyderpora encounter.Govt will take suitable action as soon as report is submitted in a time-bound manner.JK admin reiterates commitment of protecting lives of innocent civilians&it will ensure there is no injustice.
— Office of LG J&K (@OfficeOfLGJandK) November 18, 2021
However the PAGD leaders spoke to the media after their meeting at the residence of chairman and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah and the Alliance’s spokesperson Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami said the magisterial inquiry ordered into the “destructive incident” was unacceptable as it was akin to being “judge, jury and executioner.” Tarigami, who is leader of CPI (M) told the media that the PAGD met and discussed the “grave tragedy which innocent people faced at Hyderpora. We have assembled to take stock of the unfortunate situation. Mehboobaji (PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti) could not come because she was placed under house arrest which is unfortunate and condemnable”, reported Greater Kashmir.
Tarigami said that the leaders have demanded “there should be a halt on such destructive incidents. This is not only our concern but every citizen. Local citizens cannot feel secure in such a situation and there is continuous breach of law by law enforcers which is unacceptable. We can have difference of opinion on political front but whatever is happening and in particular this grave tragedy, it remains the important issue for all of us.”
The PAGD has demanded a time-bound judicial inquiry, so the families of those killed “get justice.” Tarigami said, “We want to ask question to government of India. Is killing innocent civilians necessary for national security”. Have we come to such a pass? This is our question.” He added that PAGD “reject magisterial inquiry ordered. It is same administration which killed and it cannot act as judge, jury and executioner. This is not acceptable. We demand a credible inquiry and to our belief it could only be judicial inquiry. Those who are responsible should be brought to book.
We demand judicial probe into the civilian killings of Hyderpora and urge the administration to immediately handover their bodies to respective families for last rites. pic.twitter.com/zgjl88uKR0
— M Y Tarigami (@tarigami) November 16, 2021
He added that if this demand is not met then “our parliamentarians such as Farooq sahib, Masoodi sahib, Mohammad Akhbar Lone will meet the President.” The leaders have also demanded that the “bodies should be handed over to kin without delay. There should be no time-table. I want to tell the government to stop, stop this. This is a historical fact that when the glass is filled to capacity, water overflows and the same is the case with patience. Don’t construe patience as silence. You are not gauging things in the right perspective. Irrespective of differences on the political front, we are together and won’t allow Kashmir to turn into a graveyard. This is our belief and this is our appeal to the government to listen to this voice.”
The PAGD spokesperson added that the “Constitution teaches us that those responsible must be brought to book.” He added that families of those killed in such encounters are denied the right to conduct dignified burial which is a “Constitutional right and not any favour. If this thing is not done on one or the other pretext such as covid or law & order, this is not acceptable to us.” Tarigami said according to media reports, adding that the leaders were also not allowed to meet the families of those killed and offer condolences to them, “when Dr Sahib (Farooq Abdullah) contacted the security establishment, he was told that there is no permission.”
LG @manojsinha_ should reach out to these families, hear them in person & then give them the bodies of their loved ones. It’s the only right thing to do, it’s the only humane thing to do.
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) November 18, 2021
Bhat, and Gul’s families had been on a sit-in protest since the killings, demanding return of the bodies. They were buried in Handwara, more than 70 kilometres from Srinagar, stated news reports. The families were reported to have been forcibly evicted from the protest site.
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