New Delhi

The government of Jammu and Kashmir has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the Hyderpora encounter in which four persons, including two terrorists, were killed and two civilians had died in the crossfire between the security forces and the holed in terrorists.

 

After days of protest by the bereaved familes of the house owner – Mohammad Altaf Bhat and an office attendant Mudasir Gul – that they were killed in cold blood and demanding the return of their bodies for burial, Lt Governor Manoj Sinha said on Twitter, “A magisterial inquiry by an officer of ADM rank has been ordered in Hyderpora encounter. Govt will take suitable action as soon as the report is submitted in a time-bound manner. JK admin reiterates the commitment to protecting the lives of innocent civilians & 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

Inspector-General of Police, Vijay Kumar had admitted in a press conference that there is a possibility of Mohammad Altaf Bhat having got killed in the crossfire between the holed-in terrorists and the raiding police party. The family alleges that he was used as a human shield by the police during the encounter. Bhat was injured in the shootout and later succumbed to his injuries.

 

Police said four people, including a foreign militant his associate Mohammad Amir, were killed in the gunfight on Monday night.

 

Vijay Kumar claimed the place was used as a hideout for terrorists under the guise of running an illegal call center.

 

The police also circulated a video of the office on social media showing sleeping chambers and maps of America.

 

Vijay Kumar said many computers and other electronic gadgets seized from the hideout had been sent to Delhi for forensic examination and the full

investigation into the role of the killed terrorists will come out later.

 

The families of Bhat and Mudasir Gul have alleged they were killed by police. The families have been on a sit-in since the killings and held a candlelight protest on Wednesday night while demanding the bodies. But police forcibly removed the family members and briefly detained a few of them in a midnight raid.

 

The slain duo has been buried by the police in far-flung Handwara in north Kashmir's Kupwara citing "law and order."