Srinagar: The bodies of three Rajouri youth, who were killed in the staged encounter in Shopian in South Kashmir by the army, have been handed over to their families for burial after 70 days.
An official in Baramulla administration confirmed to ETV Bharat that the bodies of the three youth were exhumed Saturday morning and handed over to their families at Gantamulla Baramulla in north Kashmir.
The three youth, Imtiyaz Ahmad, Muhammad Ibrar and Abrar Ahmad, all from Rajouri district, were killed in a staged encounter by the army in Amshipora, Shopian on July 18.
Army in a statement has said that the three were unidentified militants and their bodies were buried in a graveyard in Gantmulla, Baramulla.
As per the SOP of police, unidentified militants' bodies are buried in Baramulla or in Handwara.
However, the families of the three slain youth-created uproar after they identified them as their sons by pictures which were circulated o social media.
Following the demand of the families for justice and handing them bodies, police and army called a separate investigation into the staged encounter.
Inspector-General of Police Vijay Kumar had confirmed that the DNA samples of the three killed youth and their families matched positively and their bodies will be exhumed and handed over to the families
Police have also arrested two locals "informers" from Shopian and Pulwama districts in connection with the staged encounter and a local court has sent them to eight days of judicial remand.
The army too has said that it is conducting court of inquiry into the encounter for violation of SOP under Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA).
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