Bodies of two civilians exhumed, to be handed over to families for last rites

Srinagar, Nov 18: After an outcry, authorities on Thursday exhumed the bodies of two Srinagar residents who were killed in Hyderpora on Monday night, reports said.

Mohammad Altaf Bhat and Dr Mudasir Gul were buried at a graveyard in Handwara tehsil of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.

Quoting official sources, news agency GNS reported that the bodies were exhumed under the supervision of Tehsildar Handwara in presence a team of doctors. They said the bodies are being sent to Srinagar for handing over same to the families.

Sources said that families have been asked to limit the funeral to few people only. Also restrictions have been imposed in the area to prevent any “law and order” situation.

The exhumation took place hours after LG Manoj Sinha-led administration ordered a probe into the Hyderpora encounter in which four persons were killed.

The families of the duo contested the police claims that they were killed in cross-firing and have been demanding their bodies for “proper” burial.

This morning Lieutenant Governor Manoj Singh announced magisterial inquiry into the incident and soon Altaf Bhat’s brother Abdul Majeed welcomed it and said the family also demands that the killers of his sibling be brought to justice.

A controversy has erupted over Monday’s encounter in Hyderpora following conflicting claims about the two deceased as their family members contested the police’s charge that they were “terror associates”.

“I am thankful to LG for ordering an inquiry. I am thankful that my oppressed voice was heard by someone. I only have one request to the LG, I want the body of my brother returned to us and the killers of my innocent brother brought to justice,” he said.

He said that after the announcement of the inquiry, he was hopeful that the family will get justice. “I request the LG to please return the body quickly because his (Bhat’s) children want to see the face of their father one last time,” he said.