Mehbooba Mufti seeks impartial probe into Lawaypora encounter

A day after Jammu and Kashmir police claimed to have killed three 'militants' in Lawaypore encounter, PDP Chief Mehmooba Mufti has written a letter to LG Manoj Sinha seeking an impartial probe.

Srinagar: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti on Friday shot a letter to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and sought an impartial investigation into the Lawaypora encounter in which three 'militants' were killed two days ago.

I am sure you are aware of the unfortunate incident at Parimpora on 30th December. Three boys, the youngest being all of 17 years old, were killed in what the family has alleged to be a staged gunfight," she said.

"Questions are also looming over this encounter & there are conflicting versions & reports from police & the army. Justice can be served only if its swift & therefore I request you to initiate an impartial investigation into the matter immediately," the former chief minister said.

Mehbooba Mufti seeks impartial probe into Lawaypora encounter

She wrote that said such incidents bring 'disrepute' to the armed forces and are 'a grave violation' of human rights.

On Wednesday, police had claimed to have killed three 'militants' in an overnight encounter in Lawaypora area of Srinagar, but families of the slain youths said they were not militants and that two of them were students.

The PDP leader said she and the lieutenant governor might not be on the same page on most political matters, "but I am certain we agree that such incidents bring disrepute to the armed forces and are a grave violation of human rights".

Mufti said while she was aware that the administration was apprehensive about returning the bodies of the three youths killed in Srinagar to their families, "this callous decision will only exacerbate their sense of loss and pain".

"One hopes that you will rethink this decision and allow them to get closure. A mother who grieves the sudden & tragic death of her beloved son shouldn't be deprived of the last chance to see his face. Nor does she deserve to have to beg for his dead body. This is simply inhuman & unacceptable," she said in the letter.

Mufti urged Sinha to intervene and ensure that the families get a chance to perform the last rites as per their wishes.

Meanwhile, Anantnag MP Hasnain Masoodi also spoke to Manoj Sinha on Thursday over the issue, after which the party said that the Lt Governor has assured an impartial inquiry into the incident.

With PTI inputs