Why parents of three youth weren’t called to gunfight site, questions Muzaffar Shah

SRINAGAR — While raising questions over Srinagar encounter, senior Vice President Awami National Conference, Muzaffar Shah on Friday questioned why SOP was not followed by Joint Forces and why the family members of the slain youth were not called at the encounter site.

Muzaffar Shah said that Joint Forces are bound to follow SOP under which family members of trapped militants are called near the encounter site to persuade their loved ones to give up arms.

“In Srinagar no such SOP was followed. Stern action should be taken against those involved in this encounter. Families of youth have already termed this encounter as ‘staged and fake’. It is a fake encounter. We have seen earlier how three innocent labourers from Rajouri were killed in fake Amshipora Shopian encounter,” Shah said.

He sought time bound inquiry into the circumstances leading to the killing of these three youth, saying justice must be immediately delivered by investigating the matter on impartial, fast-track basis.

“It is unfortunate that youth are being killed in cold blood in a place that is ruled by LG Manoj Sinha,” Shah said, adding that with regard to Srinagar encounter the versions of Police and the family are contradictory.

“It is for the government now to clear the ambiguity leading to the death of the three persons,” he said and added, “This is shocking and must be probed impartially.”